Joe Biden to take oath outside Capitol amid virus restrictions

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will take their oaths of workplace outside the U.S. Capitol constructing as inauguration planners search to craft an occasion that captures the normal grandeur of the historic ceremony whereas complying with COVID-19 protocols.

Mr. Biden’s group launched some broad particulars for the January 20 occasion on Tuesday. They’re continuing with the plans with none assurances that outgoing President Donald Trump will take part.

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The President, who continues to make unproven claims of widespread voter fraud, has not but informed present and former White House aides whether or not he’ll attend Mr. Biden’s inauguration.

While many had assumed he would skip the occasion after his loss, some now do anticipate him to make an look for the sake of custom, even when he tries to overshadow the occasion by, maybe, asserting the launch of his 2024 marketing campaign simply earlier than.

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Despite this week’s rollout of the brand new vaccine, its availability to most people continues to be months away. Mr. Biden’s group is urging supporters not to come to Washington, DC, to have fun the inauguration.

The ceremony’s footprint can be extraordinarily restricted, and the parade that follows can be reimagined, Mr. Biden’s inaugural committee mentioned in an announcement.

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After the swearing-in ceremony, Mr. Biden will ship an inaugural deal with that lays out his imaginative and prescient to beat the virus, construct again higher, and produce the nation collectively, the assertion mentioned.

The committee introduced that Dr David Kessler, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner, had been named as chief medical adviser for the inauguration.

The pandemic is constant to have a big public well being influence throughout the nation,” Mr. Kessler mentioned.

“We are asking Americans to participate in inaugural events from home to protect themselves, their families, friends, and communities.

As it seeks to retain some of the traditional touchstones of the event and imagine new pandemic-era aspects, the committee is turning to the same production team that handled this year’s Democratic National Convention.

Features of that convention, such as the virtual roll call from every state, may be incorporated.

It’s still unclear whether other traditional inaugural events, such as a luncheon with members of Congress or a pre-ceremony tea with the outgoing president, will happen this time.

The presidential face-to-face is up in the air due to Mr. Trump’s ongoing maneuvering rather than any virus concerns. The outgoing president still refuses to concede the election.

When asked in a Sunday Fox News interview whether he would participate or attend, Mr. Trump said, “I don’t want to talk about that.”