. . World News – USA – Sorry Grinch. The virus does not prevent NORAD from tracking down Santa Claus

WASHINGTON (AP) – Children of the world can just rest. The global pandemic won’t stop them from tracking Santa’s progress as he delivers gifts around the globe on Christmas Eve.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command has announced that NORAD will be chasing Santa Claus on December. 24, just like for 65 years. However, there will be some changes: not every child can, as in previous years, contact a volunteer in the NORAD call center to check the whereabouts of Santa Claus.

Typically 150 to 160 volunteers crowd into a conference room at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, taking a two hour shift to answer the phones while eager children call to see if Santa and his sleigh are on their rooftops achieved. In total, 1. 500 people participated in the call center for over 20 hours and more than 130 from 6 a.m.. 000 calls made. m. Eastern time on Christmas Eve.

This year the number of volunteers has been drastically reduced to what NORAD expects for fewer than 10 people per shift due to the safety restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

« We understand that this is a time-honored tradition, and we know beyond a doubt that there will be some disappointments, » said NORAD spokesman Preston Schlachter. « But we try to keep it safe for everyone involved. ”

Some callers may be able to reconnect with a member of the military or another volunteer by dialing NORAD Tracks Santa Toll Free 1-877-Hi-NORAD. Others, however, receive a recorded update on Santa’s current location.

Schlachter said NORAD will largely limit volunteers to people who already work there and to their immediate families. But that could be expanded a bit as the time gets closer. He said this year volunteers will answer health questions and have their temperature checked upon arrival, and a cleaning crew will be cleaning surfaces throughout the day. Towels and other supplies will be available, and between shifts the entire call area will be cleaned up before the next group comes in.

Amid concerns about the virus, NORAD staff have worked for weeks to find a way to ensure that the popular tradition can continue.

Military command has been making calls since 1955 when Air Force Col. . Harry Shoup – the on-duty commander of NORAD’s predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command – received a call from a child who dialed a misprinted phone number in an advertisement in a newspaper store believing she was calling Santa Claus.

Today most early calls are from Japan and Europe, and during the day the callers will be from the US. S.. . and climbing Canada.

In addition to the call center, the NORAD Tracks Santa website – noradsanta. org – as well as social media sites, Amazon Alexa, Onstar and a new mobile app will continue to be available with updated details on Santa’s location. A social media team will work from a separate conference room at the base.

The Tracking Santa apps will be available soon on Google Play and the Apple App Store.

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