Surgeon General Adams: All Americans, Even in the White House, Should Avoid Holiday Gatherings

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Adams was asked during an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America” ​​how the White House can justify hosting holiday parties as the CDC advises Americans to stay home for Thanksgiving and warns against gatherings inside.

The White House holiday invitations have started arriving on Capitol Hill and to Republican donors, two people who received them said. The sources said the invitations looked like any other year, with no mention of coronavirus precautions. And last week, First Lady Melania Trump finalized guest lists for parties with friends, family and staff, which will take place over multiple evenings in mid-December.

Parties are another example of those in the White House shying away from the administration’s best practices, which has led to multiple epidemics in recent months and fears it will happen again.

Adams, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, declined to condemn the parties, instead speaking more broadly about large gatherings.

“I want the American people to know that we are at a critical point in our fight against this virus by any measure: cases, positivity, hospitalizations, death. We are seeing more Americans negatively affected than ever before,” he said he declared. on to brag about positive news in vaccine development.

He continued, “I ask Americans – and I beg you – to hold out a little longer. Keep Thanksgiving and celebration small and smart this year.”

Pressed again on whether he was concerned that the White House holiday celebrations could turn into super-broadcaster events, Adams said, “Well, we want everyone to understand that these celebrations can. to be super-diffusing events, so we want them to be smart and we want to be as small as possible. But again, go to cdc.gov. Check out these tips for everyone. They apply to the White House, they apply to the American people, they apply to everyone. We want you to stay safe so we can get a vaccine. “

Meanwhile, at the White House, preparations for the season are well underway, with the first lady welcoming the official Christmas tree to the White House via the customary longtime horse drawn carriage on Monday afternoon and preparing to unveil her soon. Christmas decorations.

Traditionally, dozens of volunteers from across the country spend several days at the White House after Thanksgiving, decorating the hallways and putting the finishing touches on the extensive holiday decor that is to take place in several public spaces and rooms.

Melania Trump, as she has done for the past three years, started planning her “design theme” at the end of the summer for the holidays. This year, however, the number of volunteers selected to adorn the White House has been drastically reduced due to Covid-19 guidelines, as have the groups of tourists who come to see it.

She has lamented the long, annual process before, telling her friend and former counselor Stephanie Winston Wolkoff on secretly recorded tapes, “I’m working … my shit on Christmas stuff, you know, that gives a ** * about it. Christmas items and decorations? But I have to do it, right? ”

When volunteers arrive to begin the work of installing ornaments, wall decorations, lights and garlands, they will wear masks and remain socially distant, according to White House rules outlined in the application form. Guests on tour will also need to wear masks and be socially distant.

And despite the worsening state of the pandemic and President Donald Trump’s refusal to accept the election results, he will make a now rare public appearance in the Rose Garden on Tuesday when he participates in the annual Turkey Pardon of Thanksgiving.

CNN’s Jeff Zeleny contributed to this report.

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