A few days ago, an official from the World Health Organization (WHO) assured that "Santa Claus is immune" against Covid-19, just to calm the anxieties of millions of children fearing to have shoes empty.
But in reality, the pandemic does not give the official presenter a gift.
As proof, Father Christmas who officiated last Sunday, in the afternoon, in Meynes (Gard), a village of 2,500 souls not far from Nîmes, was, at the very beginning of the week, "tested positive asymptomatic" for the coronavirus.
It was the town hall which announced this news, Tuesday and Wednesday, on its Facebook page.
"The Regional Health Agency asks the municipality to identify the participants who were less than a meter from Santa Claus during this outdoor meeting, who are considered at risk", relates the municipality, inviting the citizens concerned to contact its services.
“These people must isolate themselves and call the doctor who will set the rules that will apply to the family unit,” she continues.
Two hours in the square
“Most of the parents followed the instructions, their children stayed at home.
We really apply the precautionary principle, ”comments an official at the town hall.
At the Regional Health Agency (ARS) of Occitanie, it is explained that "as soon as the case was reported, preventive measures were implemented by the teams of the ARS and the town hall, with the support of Health Insurance for the appeal of potential contact cases ”.
According to her, "the usual measures of protection
(barrier gestures)
and isolation were reminded to the families concerned", recommended "for a period of 7 days".
The king of the sled, who did not suspect that he was carrying the virus, had disembarked Sunday, between 3 and 5 p.m., on the town hall square, therefore outside.
"In gradual flow, there must have been about fifty people", assesses a witness.
These young and old who attended the event generally respected the safety distances with the guest of the day who was then possibly contagious.
"There was no seat, he was standing", one describes on the side of the town hall.
“He offered curls, some took them, others didn't.
But the people weren't really tight.
The biggest risk in my opinion is when the inhabitants, parents and their children in particular, gathered on the steps of the square to take pictures around Santa Claus, ”says our witness, who decided to stand by. have it tested "as a precaution".
Hydroalcoholic gel was available.
The municipal council in video
The Gard Santa Claus did not wear a mask, according to the town hall, but a "voluminous beard covering his face well".
His nose was still in the open air.
As for the children, they were not all masked.
“There were no hugs and hugs with Santa Claus,” reassures an elected official.
Like other members of the municipal team, the latter carried out a screening test.
"I have the result, it is negative", she confides.
Due to the contamination of Santa Claus and the confinement of elected officials who were in contact with him, the city council was held, Thursday evening, by videoconference for some members.
"The opposition is having a blast," reveals an old veteran of local politics.
"This story, it created a small event here", summarizes a shopkeeper.
What is certain is that it makes people talk on the Facebook page of the town hall.
The Meynois and Meynoises do not hesitate to give up.
"Let us not give in to fear and psychosis, everything is set up in an intelligent and responsible way", defends a mother of a family.
“To say that all barrier gestures were respected, should not be exaggerated!
No, Father Christmas did not respect the distances, he even took some children against him for the photos, ”storms another.
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"Since when does a beard prevent postilions from passing?"
“Asks a third.
"I'm going to stop waxing and I'm going to tell my husband to grow a beard, that will protect us from the Covid", quips a lady.
Beyond the controversy, some residents are concerned about the health of the man in the red coat.
"I hope that Father Christmas is well", writes, thus, a surfer.
