President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will have a low-key inauguration on January 20, and the event will be restricted for the public, the organisers said. They urged the citizens to participate in the historic affair from home in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), responsible for the planning and execution of the inaugural ceremonies of the president-elect and vice president-elect of the US at the Capitol, on Wednesday said that invitations to members of the 117th Congress will be limited to themselves and one guest.
“Our goal is to create an inauguration that keeps people safe, honours the grand traditions of the Presidency, and showcases the Biden-Harris Administration's renewed American vision for an inclusive, equitable, and unified citizenry,” said Presidential Inauguration Committee (PIC)CEO Tony Allen.
In normal time, the JCCIC would distribute 200,000 tickets for the official ceremonies at the Capitol and provide ticket bundles to members of Congress to distribute to constituents.
This time on January 20, Biden, 878, and Harris, 56, will take their oaths to their respective offices during a ceremony amid a bunch of health and safety protocols.
“The JCCIC, in consultation with diversified public health and medical experts and the Presidential Inaugural Committee has determined that this global pandemic and the rise in COVID-19 cases warranted a difficult decision to limit attendance at the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies to a live audience that resembles a State of the Union,” said committee Chairman Roy Blunt.
“We are also working on enhanced opportunities to watch the ceremonies online, in addition to the traditional televised national broadcast,” he said.
“The election of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris was historic and we know that many Americans would have wanted to attend the Inauguration in-person. At the same time, safety must be our top priority,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar.
“While the pandemic has forced us to limit in-person attendance, it also brings opportunities to honour our democracy in innovative ways so that Americans across the country can experience Inauguration Day from home,” she added.
The electoral college on Monday officially declared Biden as President as it met in their respective State Capitols. However, outgoing President Donald Trump refused to concede the elections, even though he asked his administration to cooperate on transition.
In another statement, the PIC said that the inaugural ceremony will be totally limited, and the parade will be reimagined.
“President-elect Biden's unwavering commitment to the safety of the American people is our North Star as we plan an inauguration that protects public health while honouring inaugural traditions and engaging Americans across the country,” said PIC executive director Maju Varghese.
“We are excited to share more information soon about the new and innovative ways all Americans can watch and participate in a historic inauguration that will unify our country,” the Indian-American official said.
The PIC has tasked a team of seasoned production experts with the job of putting together a new and innovative programme that will let all Americans participate in the ceremony safely, which will be made known in the coming weeks.
“The pandemic is continuing to have a significant public health impact across the nation. Americans everywhere must do their part to slow the spread of the virus: wear masks, stay home, and limit gatherings. We are asking Americans to participate in inaugural events from home to protect themselves, their families, friends, and communities,” said PIC Chief Medical Advisor Dr David Kessler.
The US is the worst-hit nation from the pandemic. In the past week, it has reported an average of more than 215,000 new infections a day.
