How the White House is scaling back holiday celebrations this year amid COVID concerns

The White House decorated for the holidays.
(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

This year's White House holiday festivities will still espouse plenty of comfort and joy ... just on a smaller scale than originally planned.

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden are scaling back their parties and celebrations this Christmas season due to COVID-19 concerns, NBC News reports per a statement from Jill Biden's office.

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"Anyone who knows the Bidens knows how much they enjoy hosting and celebrating the holidays," said Jill Biden spokesperson Michael LaRosa. "It is disappointing that we cannot host as many people as the Bidens would like to, but as we have done since Day 1 of the Biden administration, we will continue to implement strong COVID protocols, developed in consultation with our public health advisors."

The invite-only open houses will be timed at 30 minutes per guest, who will be required to take a COVID-19 test within 48 hours of their visit should they be unable to confirm their vaccination status, according to CNN.

Brigid Kennedy

Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.