Paul Hopkins Exclusive: Mean virus fails to stop Santa from coming

The world is looking brighter now with the first of the Covid-19 vaccines rolling out. However, there were growing fears that the pandemic would halt Santa Claus in his tracks, that he and his loyal reindeer would not be able to travel the world on Christmas Eve to visit every child in case he or Rudolph picked up the dreaded virus. Mrs Claus was said to be “beside herself with worry” about the Old Man who, let’s face it, is not getting any younger.

However, a source close to Santa — and, no, it is not one of his elves — has told Meath Chronicle that Santa had his vaccine shot yesterday, along with Rudoplh and Dasher and Dancer and the rest of the crew, and that they will all be able to safely travel to each and every child who believes in him. Santa was quoted as saying: “I have not survived the ages to be conquered by some old meany bug.”

The source also quoted Mrs Claus as saying her husband — whom she first met when, as a single man, he came down the chimney of her home in Norway to bring presents to her younger brother — said there was no such thing as a ‘naughty child’ this Christmas as every boy and girl had been very good following the Covid-19 health rules so Santa this year would grant every child their special wish.

Santa and his elves are now down to opening the last 191,220 letters sent to the North Pole by children world-wide.

Although many events and traditions have been cancelled this Christmas due to the pandemic, my contact at the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) tells me that, following the news of Santa’s vaccine, the military command has swung into full operation to track Santa Claus as he makes his rounds on Christmas night — as it has every year since 1955.

Norad tracks Santa as he travels the world through the use of satellite systems, high-powered radar, and (wow!) jet fighters. This year, however, there will be some changes in the way Norad reports on Santa’s journey.

My contact, Preston Schlachter, speaking exclusively to this paper, tells me that, in a typical year, around 150 volunteers take two-hour shifts in a crowded conference room at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs to track Santa’s journey. This year, Norad is working to reduce the health risks posed by the virus by operating from a much larger room to ensure proper social distancing. Also, to minimise risk, the number of volunteers has been drastically cut to what Norad expects will be fewer than 10 people a shift.

“This is a time-honoured tradition,” says Schlachter. “But we’re trying to keep it safe for everyone involved.”

As part of its unique service Norad offers all children — and grown-ups who are children at heart — a Santa tracking website in seven languages ( https://www.noradsanta.org), social media pages, a new mobile app, and partner platforms so children of all ages around the world can track Father Christmas.

Operation Norad Tracks Santa will provide daily updates to its 2.3 million social media followers across its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

The military command has been fielding calls asking about Santa’s whereabouts since Christmas Eve, 65 years ago. A young girl dialed a misprinted telephone number in a department store’s newspaper ad to track Santa and mistakenly reached Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup — the commander on duty at Norad’s predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command.

Thinking quickly, Colonel Shoup had his operators find the location of Santa Claus and gave it to the girl. The team then tracked Santa for every child who called that night. The tradition has been carried on by Norad since it was formed in 1958.

Each year, the website attracts nearly nine million visitors from more than 200 countries around the world.

It is believed the little girl who misdialled that night met Santa, and Col. Shoup, on Christmas Eve in 1959 in a secret mince pie factory on 34th Street in New York City. The little girl described her meeting with Santa as “a miracle”.

So boys and girls, and mammies and daddies, you can track Santa’s journey on Christmas Eve, but, remember, you must go to bed early so as Santa can come to you.

To paraphrase Mrs Claus, I am beside myself with the sheer excitement of Santa coming. Virus? Bah, humbug!

Meanwhile, a happy and safe Christmas everyone...