Santa ‘immune’ to COVID? WHO says he can still make Christmas rounds

Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/12/18/20201124-man-wearing-a-santa-claus-costume-india-rtr.jpg"/><figcaption>A man wearing a Santa Claus costume distributes free masks on an intersection, amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease in Ahmedabad, India, December 18, 2020. <em>Amit Dave, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>The pandemic need not deter Santa from traveling the world and handing out gifts this coming Christmas because he is immune to COVID-19, a World Health Organization official said Monday.</p><p>As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage, WHO&#x27;s lead on the crisis Maria Van Kerkhove told a press briefing she understood many children were worried how the virus could impact Father Christmas.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/19/20/poorer-nations-to-get-virus-vaccine-early-next-year-says-who">Poorer nations to get virus vaccine early next year, says WHO</a></li></ul><p>&quot;I understand the concern for Santa, because he is of older age,&quot; she said, responding to a journalist&#x27;s question about whether the fantasy, gift-bearing figure, known for his grey whiskers and big belly, might not be at heightened risk from COVID.</p><p>&quot;I can tell you that Santa Claus is immune to this virus,&quot; said Van Kerkhove, who herself has two young sons.</p><p>&quot;We had a brief chat with him and he is doing very well and Mrs Claus is doing very well, and they are very busy right now,&quot; she said.</p><p>She also said WHO had heard from a number of world leaders, who said they had relaxed the quarantine measures that are hampering global travel and would allow Santa and his flying reindeer to enter their airspace.</p><p>&quot;So he will be able to travel in and out of the airspace and be able to deliver presents to children,&quot; she said.</p><p>But while seeming eager to help spread the holiday cheer, Van Kerkhove also stuck to the WHO&#x27;s role of advising how best to stay safe and halt transmission of the virus that has killed more than 1.6 million people in the past year.</p><p>&quot;I think it is very important that all the children of the world understand that physical distancing by Santa Claus and also of the children themselves must be strictly enforced,&quot; she said.</p><p>Kids should listen to their parents and &quot;make sure that they go to bed early on Christmas Eve,&quot; she said, stressing that &quot;Santa will be able to travel around the world to deliver presents.&quot;</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n6ncGaQryR4?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The pandemic need not deter Santa from traveling the world and handing out gifts this coming Christmas.</p>

The pandemic need not deter Santa from traveling the world and handing out gifts this coming Christmas.

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Santa ‘immune’ to COVID? WHO says he can still make Christmas rounds

Santa ‘immune’ to COVID? WHO says he can still make Christmas rounds

Agence France-Presse

Published Dec 19, 2020 04:41 AM PHT

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COVID-19

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