Santa Is Exempt From RI Coronavirus Restrictions, Says Raimondo

PROVIDENCE, RI — The holidays are fast-approaching, which has raised concerns about how a certain jolly old elf will be able to visit Rhode Island children on Christmas Eve amid mask mandates, social gathering limits and other coronavirus restrictions. Fear not, Gov. Gina Raimondo said during her weekly news conference: Santa Claus can't get COVID-19.

Raimondo said she received a handwritten letter on a piece of construction paper from a 6-year-old girl from Cranston asking if Santa Claus would be banned from coming down the chimney on Christmas Eve. On Wednesday, Raimondo assured her and all the children in the state that not only is Saint Nicholas immune to the coronavirus, he is the only person exempt from the state's coronavirus safety orders.

"Santa and his elves are immune from COVID, Dr. [Anthony] Fauci himself said he cannot get it," Raimondo said. "It's only Santa that has this dispensation [from following the rules.]"

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