For 13 years, Hugh McDowell has donned a red Santa suit and brought smiles to the faces of children in Gainesville. But this year, he has no reindeer, no sleigh. This year, like the rest of America, McDowell is on Zoom. “I have to protect my family,” he said. During this merry time of the year, McDowell, 73, usually works as Santa and makes appearances for corporate, charity or community events. But this holiday season, he has been forced to play St. Nick via his computer. The coronavirus pandemic has upended every aspect of life, and Christmas is no exception. Public health experts warn that letting children sit on Santa’s lap breaks the 6-feet-apart social distancing rule.