The coronavirus is not going to stop Santa Claus from coming to town.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command, which tracks everything in the skies of the United States and Canada, is tracking Santa’s sleigh and his reindeer in its 65th year on Christmas Eve.
Families can follow Velho São Nicolau’s journey on the NORAD website as he travels and delivers gifts to children around the world.
The holiday tradition began with an innocuous and out of place connection.
In December 1955, Colonel Harry Shoup was working his shift at the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center, a predecessor of NORAD, when he answered the phone in his office.
After a brief delay, a child asked Shoup if he was the great man. Shoup initially thought someone in his office was playing a trick, but decided to joke when the girl asked the question again.
Thus was born the tradition of children all over the world calling NORAD and asking about the whereabouts of Santa Claus.
Hundreds of volunteers typically receive calls to the NORAD hotline that tracks Santa Claus on Christmas Eve to provide updates on Santa’s location, according to NORAD. This year, only a small number of people will answer the phone to limit the spread of the coronavirus, the organization said.
General Glen VanHerck, commander of NORAD, told Kerry Sanders on the TODAY program on Thursday that despite the changes, the pandemic would not stop Santa from spreading the joy of Christmas.
“I am 100 percent convinced that Santa Claus is more than ready to make this trip through a coronavirus environment,” said VanHerck. “He’s been doing it for many, many years, as you know, through challenges around the world, so I’m confident that Santa Claus will make it.”
“Believe it, keep believing it,” he said.