The White House was always one of the busiest social hubs in Washington, accustomed to hosting at least three to five events per day, ranging from meetings with dignitaries and VIPs to smaller luncheons or private dinners.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that since late March, the White House has been on virtual lockdown. This week, however, party preparation began anew. Tables popped up on the South Lawn, installed by staff who had been cut back from in-person work several weeks earlier out of an abundance of caution, but who have returned this week to set up the White House July Fourth party.

The chairs for the tables, however, are not the typical eight or 10, but instead just four - only enough to accommodate a socially distant seating plan. There will be tablecloths and flowers, some food - including grill stations for hot dogs and hamburgers (adorned with tiny American flags attached to toothpicks) and nonalcoholic drinks - details overseen by Niceta, herself one of the staffers who had since late March been doing her job from home.