Because of the coronavirus pandemic, many scheduled public events and gatherings were forced to either cancel or resort to the digital platform. First Lady Melania Trump kept the tradition of reading an Easter book to children by doing an online reading over the weekend.
The Daily Mail reports that Melania shared a video on Twitter of her reading an Easter book in an effort to keep some of the White House Easter traditions after having to cancel the annual Easter Egg Roll this year. “Since we are not able to celebrate the traditional Easter Egg Roll on the grounds of the White House this year, I want to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Easter, and read one of my favorite children’s books,” said the First Lady, who then narrated “The Little Rabbit,” with the illustrations flashing on the screen throughout the four-minute video.
After reading, Melania once again wished everyone a Happy Easter. “Be sure to take care of yourselves and each other,” said the First Lady.
The long-running tradition of the White House Easter Egg Roll was canceled this year because of the growing concerns of the coronavirus which has affected over 500,000 Americans and killing over 20,000. The social distancing guidelines restrict gatherings of more than 10 people and to keep a distance of six feet when in public places. The health experts at the CDC have also advised wearing face masks or protective face coverings when in public places, especially for those who are asymptomatic.
The First Lady has constantly stressed the importance of wearing masks and to abide by the social distancing guidelines over the past week. Through a series of tweets and a photo advising everyone to wear protective face coverings to slow down the spread, her stance is also noticeably different from that of her husband, President Donald Trump. The difference between the two was especially visible when the First Lady shared a photo of herself with a face mask on and advising Americans to do the same when in public places.
“As the CDC continues to study the spread of the COVID-19, they’re recommending people wear cloth face coverings in public settings where social distancing measures can be difficult to maintain. Remember, this does not replace the importance of social distancing,” said the First Lady in the post.