People who play shopping center Santas are, by definition, in the high-risk category for COVID: Elderly and overweight. Combining them with a parade of children waiting to sit in their laps seems undoable. Yet a survey cited by outdoor goods retailers Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's found that "three in five parents [are] comfortable taking their kids to see Santa with safety protocols in place," and in this economy, the Santas can surely use the work.

So what's the solution? Plastic.

"Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's is proud to invite families to the beloved tradition of visiting Santa Claus in person this holiday season, with a reimagined free Santa's Wonderland experience inside all its destination retail stores back by popular demand. Through an innovative contactless visit with Santa and a variety of health measures, Santa's Wonderland will prioritize everyone's safety while allowing kids and families to share their Christmas wishes directly with Santa Claus."

Enter a caption (optional)

In the video, Santa's wearing a face shield. I guess those Santa beard face masks aren't catching on.