As with almost every aspect of life this year, the pandemic is changing people’s festive traditions. This year the Hakerems plans to leave cookies somewhere else in his home in Atlanta.
And that’s on your roof! “That way you don’t have to go home,” her 7-year-old son Josh said.
While it’s clear that Santa has certain magical powers and that some countries grant travel exemptions to his crew for Christmas Eve, the science surrounding the coronavirus is still emerging. Some children say it is best not to risk spreading the virus, especially when there are toys on the line.
“He’ll probably drop toys by the fireplace,” Josh said. “Then mom and dad will pick them up and organize them under the tree.”
Santa is a super-spreader of joy, but is there a risk that Santa’s trip of handing out toys to children around the world will turn him into a coronavirus super-spreader? One theory was that it should follow the same habit that public health officials recommend for all of us when we enter a building.
It is likely that the same precautions that Santa would take on Christmas Eve are part of a safety culture that he instilled in his workforce of elves and reindeer during his extensive North Pole operation.
“I would wear a mask,” Josh said. And your crew? “I think they all wear gloves and masks.”
Christmas magic in the Covid era
While they are likely to take security precautions, the virus is likely to have disrupted the supply chain. With difficulties in obtaining the supplies that his cheerful crew needs to build toys and with requirements of social distance in his magical factory, Santa Claus has asked the boys and girls, even the good ones, to be patient with him this year, according to an email obtained by Victoria Moorhouse, a mother from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Moorhouse told her children that Santa had emailed her and other parents to apologize for how the Covid-19 pandemic has caused delays, specifically in the process of making and handling many of the millions of toys that distributes its massive operation every year.
Her 11-year-old son Aiden understood this and acknowledged that this year’s delays were perfectly understandable.
“Some elves have Covid,” he said.
So Santa will give up his usual personal sleigh ride this year and opt for innovative magic to reach millions of children in a single night, Aiden explained.
“He’ll do it with a little Christmas magic,” Aiden said. “Teleportation”.
Covid-19 can permanently alter many aspects of our world, but standard Christmas magic is likely to occur again in a post-pandemic world. “When Covid is finished, he will continue to use the reindeer,” Aiden said.
Others, however, were less convinced that a major tactical change would be needed. If Santa stayed out of the parents ’or children’s bedrooms, there was less risk of infection.
“I don’t think I have to wear a mask because we sleep away from each other,” said Coraline Land, a kindergarten student in Missoula, Montana. “I also don’t think I should wear a mask because it’s magical.”
She was more concerned about Santa’s seemingly poor performance last year. With magic at your disposal, can there be any excuse for a getaway? “The last time I asked for a toy dog, and by chance he didn’t give me any toy dogs,” he said. “I hope you bring me something I want this year.”
Leave a note to Santa if you are sick
Unfortunately, some children say it is not guaranteed to ask Santa to move away from the bedrooms so that it works as a measure to contain the virus.
Some families, such as the Atlanta Swansons, keep socks in their rooms. While this means waking up on Christmas morning to make instant gifts, the practice carries a risk during a pandemic.
Are they worried that Santa Claus might catch the virus? “Yes!” sisters Willow, 6, and Scout, 7, responded in unison.
But there were ways he could still deliver gifts without getting sick, the sisters said.
“I think he can, if he wears gloves. Before Christmas, for people who have (the virus), they will put on masks and write a letter to Santa saying they have them, so he has to be careful,” he said. say Scout. .
He provided a sample letter that boys and girls can go to Santa if they have Covid-19.
“Deer Santa, I have the viris crown, so be it carfle and war mask and gloves, rest assured. Love Scout.”
Unsubscribing is key to being able to stay socially distanced while filling your stockings. This is a message that Willow and Scout hope other children around the world will heed during the pandemic.
Santa doesn’t need to be quarantined
Meanwhile, health officials from a growing list of countries have paved the way for Santa to make his world rounds this year.
The U.S. Aerospace Defense Command, better known as NORAD, plans to track Santa’s trip around the world on December 24th.
CNN tried to contact the North Pole for comment, but has yet to hear. (The elusive figure appears to have a voice mail system set up for children, but there are no staff to make inquiries in the media).
The Belgian Minister of Health issued an exemption to Sinterklaas, as he is known in Flamenco, in November, which allowed him to move into the country and skip the standard quarantine period required for visitors to the country.
Sinterklaas traditionally delivers gifts to Belgian children on the eve of December 6, and there were no reports of any new cases related to their deliveries. This should give comfort to others when Santa makes his wider rounds on December 24th.
The top American infectious disease expert told USA Today last month that Claus shouldn’t be quarantined either when he enters the U.S. on Christmas night.
“Santa is exempt from this because Santa, of all good qualities, has very good innate immunity,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergic and Infectious Diseases.
Coraline Land, however, defended Fauci’s trial and confirmed that Santa actually has rare immune characteristics that act as a bulwark against SARS-CoV-2.
“It’s magical, so you don’t have to worry about getting sick,” kindergarten said. “It would feel better right away.”
And even if the impossible happened and Santa hired the Covid-19, Coraline had the good authority that the North Pole has established contingency plans for the annual delivery of toys.
“Mrs. Claus could go if Santa is sick and she couldn’t go,” he explained.