Gee and Ursula: Is it too soon to return to in-person Santa photos?
Dec 1, 2021, 2:18 PM
Two kids pose for a photo with Santa on Dec. 6, 2020, in Seattle, Washington. Known as the "Seattle Santa," he is usually booked for private events but set up a socially-distanced snow globe for public visits during the COVID pandemic in 2020. (File photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)
(File photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)
Santa is back to his normal December duties at local malls and ready for photos.
But at South Hill Mall in Puyallup, Santa isn’t wearing a mask in photos this year, as the News Tribune reports, (though he has one in his pocket if it’s requested). Mr. Claus does say he is vaccinated, however, and the photo staff is vaccinated as well.
Those visiting Santa at this mall are given the option of removing their masks while photos are taken. But masks are required to be worn inside the mall under statewide guidance.
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KIRO Radio’s Gee & Ursula Show discussed if it’s too soon for in-person Santa Claus photos.
“Yes, it is. It’s definitely too soon,” Gee Scott said. “If you’re going to do it, make sure your kids are good and make sure they’re safe. But yeah, it’s too soon.”
“It’s not too soon, but if I’m going to do it, I’m going to be sure to wear a mask, have a kid wear a mask, and be vaccinated,” Ursula Reutin said.
“And you know what? I think it’s kind of a cool picture to be with Santa and have the mask,” she added. “Because it shows, hey, you know, later in life you can say, ‘we lived through a pandemic.'”
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Listen to the Gee and Ursula Show weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.
