Santas in short supply with Christmas around the corner

Call it a holiday humbug: Websites that book Santas report a nationwide shortage of impersonators.

A tight labor market and fears over COVID-19 have led many unable to book the Christmas icon to visit kids ahead of the holidays.

Santas are typically older, which can place them at higher risk of dealing with severe complications from COVID-19.

It’s left some who don’t want to don the iconic red suit in public.

"You have three or four thousand little germ factories on your knee, you figure you may get something during that time," Santa Gary from Cottage Grove said.

If Santas are choosing to be in-person, expect precautions such as social distancing, so children more than likely still won’t be able to sit on Santa’s lap.