In the current pandemic, children and their families may well have questions in the lead up to the festive period, such as ‘Will COVID prevent Santa bringing presents?’
Eight year old Monti from Cockermouth, Cumbria, has written to Boris Johnson asking whether Santa will be able to proceed with the usual present deliveries this year.
A post on Facebook from the Prime Minister revealed an addressed letter from Monti that read ‘I was wondering if you and the government had thought about Santa coming this Christmas. If we leave hand sanitiser by the cookies can he come? Or will he wash his hands? I understand you are very busy but can you and the scientists please talk about this.’
Thanks to Monti, the Government has provided the much needed clarification we have been looking for.
The response received from Mr Johnson was as follows:
‘Many thanks for your letter which raises the very important question of whether Father Christmas will be able to deliver presents this year in spite of Coronavirus.
I know millions of other children are asking the same thing. Just to make sure, I have put in a call to the North Pole and I can tell you Father Christmas is ready and raring to go, as are Rudolph and all of the other reindeer.
The Chief Medical Officer has asked me to tell you that, provided Father Christmas behaves in his usual responsible way and works quickly and safely, there is no risk to your health or his.
Leaving hand sanitiser by the cookies is an excellent idea to help prevent the spread of the virus – and using it yourself, and washing your hands regularly, is exactly the kind of thing that will get you and your friends on the nice list.
Will COVID prevent Santa bringing presents.
Thank you again for your letter, and have a very Merry Christmas.’
Monti’s Mum, Abby, said “we just needed some reassurance that Father Christmas was going to still be able to deliver all of his presents across the world. Monti was really excited, not just with the letter from the Prime Minister, but with reassurance from Santa that he is going to be able to deliver on Christmas Eve, we’re just very excited now.”
Similar political responses have been seen elsewhere. In October, Nicola Sturgeon made a promise to Scottish children that Santa would still deliver their Christmas presents. She said, “Santa will not be prevented from delivering your presents on Christmas Eve, Santa is a key worker and he has got lots of magic powers that make him safe to do that”.
Sturgeon added “If he is having to do Grotto appearances by Zoom, that is to keep you safe, it is not because he is at any risk. Santa will be delivering presents across the world as normal.”
Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Coveney, confirms that Santa has been cleared to enter Irish airspace, after being given essential worker status. Addressing the Dail parliament, Mr Coveney shared the news that Santa has confirmed his intention to fly to Ireland on 24th December.
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