British Prime Minister Boris Johnson received an enquiry from an eight-year-old as to whether or not Santa Claus will be coming to deliver presents for Christmas in light of the coronavirus. The PM kindly assured Monti that the pandemic would not stop Father Christmas from visiting homes as long as he worked quickly.
Johnson also lauded the idea of Monti leaving hand sanitisers next to the cookies. “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,” Johnson wrote in his reply.
Monti (aged 8) wrote to me asking if Father Christmas will be able to deliver presents this year ?ﾟﾎﾁ?
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 25, 2020
I've had lots of letters about this, so I have spoken with experts and can assure you that Father Christmas will be packing his sleigh and delivering presents this Christmas! pic.twitter.com/pXwcjHSxZg
In the handwritten note addressed to No.10 Downing Street, the child had written, “I understand you are very busy but can you and the scientists please talk about this.” Johnson posted the letter on Twitter with a copy of his reply.
“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 are no risks to your health or his,” the PM wrote.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, took a similar measure during Easter and assured children that the Easter Bunny would be considered an essential worker and suggested that children make their Easter eggs and place them near the window. She also assured kids that the tooth fairy is also an essential worker.
