Barack Obama facing backlash over his 60th birthday party during surge of COVID-19 cases
Barack Obama has come under fire for planning an extravagant 60th birthday party as COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the US.
The former President is expecting to have hundreds of guests at his luxurious 30-acre property on Martha’s Vineyard island in Massachusetts this weekend.
According to Axios, over 400 family, friends and staff are expected to arrive, as well as celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, George Clooney and more.
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The rock band Pearl Jam are also rumoured to be performing at the prestigious event.
The party, booked for August 7th, is facing criticism as it comes at a time when the highly-infectious Delta strain of Coronavirus is devastating the US, with an average of 70,000 cases per day.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki stepped in to defend Obama's birthday plans, stating he is following guidelines put in place by Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and will have safety protocols adhered to.
Psaki also said that Obama "has been a huge advocate of individuals getting vaccinated", and will require guests to be jabbed ahead of time to be allowed into the event.
Guests will also receive a COVID test upon arrival, and anyone with symptoms will not be let in.
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