SANTA’S ( ( SOCIALLY DISTANCED GROTTO

Sit on Father Christmas’s knee this year? No No No

PROVING that nothing is sacred in a Covid Christmas, Santa has been ordered to wear a mask in his grotto and children will be banned from sitting on his knee.

The UK Government gave grottos the green light yesterday, but told venues to enforce safety measures such as social distancing and face coverings for staff in indoor areas open to the public.

It came as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he would not be letting his sons, aged six and eight, hug their grandparents this Christmas.

In Scotland, socially distanced grotto events are taking place at several garden centres, where all adults, elves and children over five have to wear a mask and stand two metres apart.

Indoor grottos are not permitted, with Santa now forced to sit in the open air.

In October, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told children that Covid would not stop Santa from visiting because he is a ‘key worker’, although he might look a bit different with his face mask.

Edinburgh Zoo is going ahead with its grotto, where ‘Santa will be a socially distanced two metres from you and your children to help keep everyone safe.’