Barack Obama has come under fire for inviting nearly 500 people to his 60th birthday party in Martha's Vineyard, even as US health officials warn of the dangers of large gatherings during the pandemic.
The former president will have at least 200 staff on hand at his Massachusetts home this weekend to cater to the 475 invited guests, including Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney and Steven Spielberg, according to reports.
The party will be outdoors at the Obamas' $17 million, 12-hectare waterfront property, where all guests will be asked to present proof of vaccination and a negative Covid-19 test.
There are no official rules regarding outdoor gatherings, but Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, said on Sunday that big parties should be avoided considering the rise in infections in the US.