Is the Easter Bunny an ‘essential worker’ in pandemic? Here’s what to tell your kids

In a move that is being supported by other world leaders, the Prime Minister of New Zealand announced Tuesday that the Easter Bunny is classified as an essential worker during the coronavirus outbreak and won’t get the day off.

That is likely a relief to millions of children who expect Easter to happen as planned Sunday, despite the pandemic.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the declaration in response to questions about growing concern among children the Easter Bunny might not be exempt from New Zealand’s nationwide “lock down” in response to COVID-19.

“You’ll be pleased to know that we do consider both the tooth fairy and Easter Bunny to be essential workers,” Ardern told the media.

Hints of a growing movement on behalf of the Easter Bunny include a Thursday declaration from Montana Gov. Steve Bullock that the work of “magical entities” is essential, and a Wednesday announcement from the El Dorado Kansas Police Department that the World Health Organization cleared the Easter Bunny for travel.

The Premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan, was among the first to weigh in on the issue, signing an April 3 “special eggs-emption” for the Bunny to travel freely “for the essential service of egg delivery.”

McGowan signed the proclamation after hearing from a 9-year-old girl who was worried the Easter Bunny would not be able to visit Sunday.

“You’ve probably noticed that some things have been different for the past few weeks. It won’t be like this forever,” McGowan said in a recorded address to “boys and girls.”

“This (proclamation) means the Easter Bunny can still ... visit all our families and friends... because we all know just how important that is,” he concluded.

This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 4:08 PM with the headline "Is the Easter Bunny an ‘essential worker’ in pandemic? Here’s what to tell your kids."