So far 74 people on Martha’s Vineyard have tested positive for Covid-19 since Barack Obama’s 60th birthday bash on Saturday. Initial reports said it was 63.
Health officials put out a statement saying it’s still too early to know whether the hundreds of guests and workers gathered for his weekend of maskless parties have contributed to the surge in cases.
‘At this time we’re not aware of any cases connected to the Obama party,’ Tisbury health agent and boards of health spokesperson Maura Valley told DailyMail.com. ‘It’s a little too early and the only way we’re going to know is through comprehensive contact tracing.’
Hundreds of people attended Obama’s birthday bash Saturday, flying in from around the country and congregating under tents where partiers danced, ate, and drank the night away on his estate in Edgartown.
In the week leading up to Barack Obama’s birthday party, 48 new cases were reported on the island through to Saturday, the prior week there was double that. The number of cases has risen every day since the bday bash, with six on Sunday, seven on Monday, 10 Tuesday, 13 Wednesday, 18 Thursday and 20 Friday.
Of the 48 people who tested positive last week, more than half were vaccinated, according to health officials.
Despite that, Obama insisted that the party would be safe because he had uninvited everyone but his family and close friends. However, 300 to 400 people showed up to his party, everyone from Jay Z and Beyonce to Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, a staffer working the event told DailyMail.com.
Many of the guests flew in by private jet and stayed in Edgartown, the center of the island’s COVID resurgence.
Several celebrities including Bradley Cooper checked in to the Harbor View Hotel where six staff members tested positive.
The Harbor View was among three new COVID clusters in Edgartown, along with the Alchemy Bistro & Bar with 14 cases, and Port Hunter restaurant with five, according to local health officials.
The latter two restaurants temporarily shut down, along with several other establishments including the historic Newes from America Pub, the Wharf Pub, and the Covington Restaurant in Edgartown.
Mask mandates have been reinstated at many bars and restaurants throughout the island.
Obama, however, insisted he was holding his guests and staff to a high standard.
A ‘coronavirus coordinator’ was hired to make sure the party was compliant with the most recent CDC guidance.
Attendees were apparently required to take tests and submit their positive results to gain entry to the compound.
