Covid-19 won't stop NORAD from tracking Santa's Christmas Eve flight around the world

By: CNN

Posted: Nov 21, 2020 9:16 AM CDT

NORAD will track Santa Claus on Christmas Eve from Peterson Air Force Base in CO. By David Williams, CNN

(CNN) -- The holidays are going to be a little different this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but NORAD says it will be ready to track Santa Claus and his reindeer as they make their annual flight.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, which is responsible for protecting the skies over the US and Canada, says it will be ready to follow Santa on December 24 as he flies from the North Pole to visit children's houses all over the world.

This will be the Santa Tracker's 65th anniversary. It dates back to a typo in a 1955 Sears ad and an Air Force officer, who's now known as the "Santa Colonel."
NORAD was even able to keep the tradition going during the 2018 government shutdown.

Normally, hundreds of volunteers staff a special call center at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to update children who call 1-877-Hi-NORAD from all over the world on Santa's location.

This year, there will be a smaller number of volunteers answering calls to reduce the potential risk of spreading the virus.

"NORAD is committed to tracking Santa while keeping our military, their families, and our dedicated call center volunteers safe," NORAD said in a news release.

People who can't get through to a volunteer will hear a recorded message with Santa's latest location.

NORAD also plans to launch a new Apple and Android apps and will have updates and games on the NORAD Tracks Santa website starting next month.