Obama curtails 60th birthday bash after Delta variant surge

Party for former president will go on, but only for family and close friends

Then-president Barack Obama blows out candles on birthday cupcakes brought to him by then-vice president Joe Biden in the Oval Office, August 4, 2016. Photo courtesy of the National Archives/Pete Souza

Mr Obama with predecessors Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W Bush in Dallas, Texas, in April 2013. Mr Obama turned 60 on August 4, 2021. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama greets US embassy staff and their families at a hotel in Kingston, Jamaica, in 2015. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Throwings darts at Manuel's Tavern before an interview with 'Vice' in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2015. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama inspects the replica of a prison cell at the National Voting Rights Museum in Selma, Alabama. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Congressman John Lewis in 2011. The veteran politician died in 2020. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama strolls the lawn with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Photo courtesy of former president

On vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, Mr Obama shared a moment with his young niece, Savita. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama looks at jewellery at a shop before a walking tour of the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, March 23, 2013. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

President Barack Obama participates the Gulf Co-operation Council Summit at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 21, 2016. The president is seated with King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama poses for a group selfie with the US Women's National Soccer Team celebrating their Fifa Women's World Cup victory at the White House on October 27, 2015. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama watches as a vendor writes a name using coloured sand in a bottle during a walking tour of the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, March 23, 2013. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama receives a fist-bump from a US soldier as he greets hundreds of US troops during his visit to Camp Victory, Iraq, April 7, 2009. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama and then-vice president Joe Biden walk around the South Lawn of the White House during a break on a working Sunday, July 24, 2011. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama delivers remarks with the help of comedic actor Keegan-Michael Key as his 'anger translator' during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, April 25, 2015. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama, wife Michelle, her mother, daughters Malia and Sasha join John Lewis, George W Bush, his wife Laura and other dignitaries to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, March 7, 2015. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama and then-vice president Joe Biden high-five after watching Sasha Obama and Maisy Biden, the vice president's granddaughter, play in a basketball game in Chevy Chase, Maryland, February 27, 2010. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

The former president talks with a young refugee as she paints at a Dignity for Children Foundation classroom in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama waves goodbye from the steps of Air Force One as he departs King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on his way to Cairo, Egypt, June 4, 2009. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama views the area near the Treasury during a walking tour of the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, March 23, 2013. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama walking near the pyramids in Egypt. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mrk Obama removes his shoes as he prepares to visit the Blue Mosque April 7, 2009, in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama sits on the grass with daughter Sasha during a barbecue with family and friends in celebration of his 49th birthday on the South Lawn of the White House. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama views science exhibits during the 2015 White House Science Fair celebrating technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions, March 23, 2015. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama and first lady Michelle Obama present a birthday cake to Assistant Usher Reggie Dickson following a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony and dinner honouring President Shimon Peres of Israel, June 13, 2012. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama turned 60 on August 4. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama hugs Gabby Giffords as he arrives to deliver the State of the Union address in the House Chamber on January 24, 2012 at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama takes a moment to himself before delivering remarks to the nation after yet another mass shooting. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama jokingly scolds then-vice president Joe Biden for dropping birthday cake in the Oval Office of the White House. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama hugs first lady Michelle Obama after she introduces him at a grassroots campaign event at Lagomarcino's Confectionary in Davenport, Iowa, August 15, 2012. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama attempts his best split with the gold medal 2016 US Olympic Women's Gymnastics Team after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 29, 2016. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Mr Obama on a much-needed vacation in his home state of Hawaii. Photo courtesy of the National Archives

Former US president Barack Obama has scaled back his 60th birthday bash set for this weekend at his Martha’s Vineyard home off the Massachusetts coast due to the surge of infections blamed on the Delta variant of the coronavirus, his office announced on Wednesday.

Attendance is now limited to family and close friends. Published reports had said hundreds of celebrities, political figures and others were expected at Mr Obama’s sprawling house.

“This outdoor event was planned months ago in accordance with all public health guidelines and with Covid safeguards in place,” Mr Obama's spokeswoman Hannah Hankins said.

“Due to the new spread of the Delta variant over the past week, the president and Mrs Obama have decided to significantly scale back the event to include only family and close friends.”

“President Obama is appreciative of others sending their birthday wishes from afar and looks forward to seeing people soon,” Ms Hankins added.

The two-term president turned 60 on Wednesday. Some conservatives criticised the plans for a milestone birthday celebration after details about the event were published this week.

“If the [Centres for Disease Control and Prevention] doesn’t recommend Obama cancel his birthday party, don’t listen when they recommend you shut down your business,” conservative activist Charlie Kirk tweeted on Monday.

Ohio Congressman and Donald Trump loyalist Jim Jordan took to Twitter to air his grievances, speculating what Democrats would say if it were Mr Trump’s party.

“If this was President Trump's birthday,” Democrats would be saying 'How can someone be so reckless?' or 'They're killing people,'" he wrote.

Last week, the CDC recommended that people — including those fully vaccinated against Covid-19 — resume wearing face coverings in public indoor spaces in areas of “substantial or high transmission” to protect against the Delta variant.

Some states and cities also have reinstated mask requirements as infections surge around the country.

The CDC website on Wednesday listed the rate of transmission in Dukes County, Massachusetts, which includes the island of Martha’s Vineyard, as “substantial".

Massachusetts has not reinstituted mask requirements, leaving those decisions to individual communities.

So far, the towns on Martha’s Vineyard have issued mask advisories, but no mandates.

The Biden administration has blamed the latest surge on the approximately 90 million people who remain unvaccinated. Mr Obama’s defenders stressed that the birthday party is being held outdoors, guests were asked to provide a negative coronavirus test result and that a co-ordinator had been enlisted to ensure the event followed all public health guidelines.

Both Mr Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have been fully vaccinated and have urged Americans to also take their shots and follow public health protocols.

“Covid-19 has got more contagious, so it’s more important than ever to get vaccinated,” the former president said last week in a tweet that included a link for people to find vaccines.