There Is A Virtual Parade After The Inauguration Ceremony Of US President-Elect Joe Biden

Joe Biden (Instagram/joebiden)

JAKARTA - The Inauguration Committee for President-Elect of the United States (US) Joe Biden announced that there will be a virtual parade after the inauguration ceremony on January 20. The parade is an effort to keep the inauguration alive but minimize the crowds amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quoting CNN, Monday, January 4, 2021, the virtual television broadcast of the parade will feature performances in communities across the country. Previously, the Democratic National Convention was held online during the summer in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

"The parade will commemorate America's heroes, highlight Americans from all walks of life in various states and territories, and reflect on the country's diversity, heritage and resilience as we embark on a new era of America," the committee said in a release. Administrators said they would announce parade participants in the coming weeks.

The inauguration committee has urged US citizens not to crowd at the inauguration ceremony of Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The committee said earlier this month Biden and Harris would take their oath of office at the US Capitol in Washington DC. The ceremony was significantly minimized with strict health and safety protocols.

After the swearing-in ceremony, Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, as well as Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, will participate in another event on the Capitol. They will inspect the military parade that takes place across the US Capitol Building. This event is a military tradition in which Biden will inspect the readiness of military forces.

"This is an old military tradition reflecting the peaceful transfer of power to the new Commander-in-Chief, in which the elected President, who is hosted by the Commander of the Joint Task Force-National Capital Territory, will review the readiness of the troops. "Said the committee. Not to forget, the committee has also prepared a health protocol for the event.

Strict health protocols

In another effort to minimize crowds, as the death toll from US COVID-19 continues to increase, Biden will receive an escort to the White House, "presenting the American people and the world a historic image of the President-elect proceeding to the White House without attracting crowds and gatherings," according to the committee.

Last week, the inauguration committee announced it would host a national memorial to remember and honor the lives lost due to COVID-19. The commemoration will take place on January 19 at 5 pm local time. The event will include a ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington DC, organizers said.

As COVID-19 cases surged across the country, Biden's inauguration committee said it was consulting medical experts and had hired professional staff to focus on health and safety protocols to hold safe events. Dr. David Kessler, a former FDA commissioner who has advised Biden about the pandemic, has joined the planning committee as his chief medical advisor.

To implement the virtual program, the committee has appointed Stephanie Cutter and Ricky Kirshner as executive producers, and Rod O'Connor as senior advisors. They work with other professionals who have also assisted with Democratic Party conventions, previous presidential inaugurations, the Super Bowl show, and the Tony Awards.