Jeff Mason and Alexandra Alper

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – As coronavirus cases in Washington rise, Friday’s outdoor event by the White House will mark the confirmation ceremony of Ketanji Black Jackson to the Supreme Court.

The Senate confirmed Jackson on Thursday, a significant achievement for the United States. It was also a win for President Joe Biden who fulfilled a campaign promise that he would nominate an African American woman for the position as he seeks a wider range of backgrounds into the federal judiciary.

Black women make up a significant part of the Democratic base and were instrumental in propelling Biden to the Democratic nomination for president in 2020.

Biden is struggling in opinion polls due in part to high inflation, concerns about the pandemic, Jackson’s confirmation could provide a boost to Black voters and other left leaning voters heading into the November midterm election, when Democrats may lose control of both the Houses of Congress.

Biden and Jackson will give remarks Friday, at 12:15 ET (1615 GMT), on the White House South Lawn.

Jen Psaki from the White House stated that outdoor venues were chosen partly to comply with COVID-19 safety. Jen Psaki spoke out after a spike in infections in the region, and top Democrats in Biden’s circle contracted the disease.

After appearing alongside Biden on Tuesday and Wednesday at packed indoor events, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was positive for a test on Thursday morning. Recent days also saw positive tests for Gina Raimondo, Commerce Department Secretary, and Adam Schiff, House Democrat.

It is always better to host events outside than inside. We want to have large numbers of people at our events, and this will allow us to achieve that. These are the most important factors,” Psaki stated.

Biden was negative after his encounter with Pelosi. The White House stated that this interaction should not have been considered contact. A close contact refers to being within six feet for 15 minutes of an infected person in the course of a 24-hour period.

After former President Donald Trump’s 2020 nomination ceremony for Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett became notorious as a coronavirus super-spreader event that struck many of the most prominent Republicans present, it was decided to have the event held outside.