White House retreats to normalcy: Biden takes off masks, officials 'hug around'

The coronavirus situation seems to be improving in the United States, as officials in the White House took off their masks and President Joe Biden was seen huddling for a picture with the South Korean president. South Korea’s Moon Jae-in was welcomed with a celebratory hand-shake and due customs in the US.

Due to the growing availability of vaccines and recent relaxation of federal guidance on masks and distancing, the Biden administration is embracing the look and feel of pre-pandemic days on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Officials were seen in a jovial mood as the White House appeared to spring back to life. Many workers from the West Wing were seen resuming work at the office and more reporters will be doing so as well.

Vice-President Kamala Harris also hugged 94-year-old US Army Col. Ralph Puckett, who was awarded the Medal of Honor.

"We're back," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday. "I can confirm we're a warm and fuzzy crew and we like to hug around here," he said.

The White House has stressed the importance of vaccination and reiterated that it can help retreat to normalcy.

To encourage more people to come forward for taking their jabs, the White House has also collaborated with leading dating websites like Tinder, Bumble and OkCupid that will offer new perks to their users like finding a perfect match once they get the jab.

"So today, dating sites like Bumble, Tinder, Hinge, Match, OkCupid, BLK, Chispa, Plenty of Fish, and Badoo are announcing a series of features to encourage vaccinations and help people meet people who have that universally attractive quality: They've been vaccinated against Covid-19," White House Covid-19 response team said in a statement.