Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska and an outspoken anti-vaxxer, was seen eating at a restaurant despite having tested positive for coronavirus just two days previously.
On Wednesday, January 26, the 57-year-old American politician returned to Elio's restaurant, which she had visited four days before, even though she had tested positive for the virus on January 24.
While failing to adhere to isolation regulations yesterday, Palin was also in breach of the rules when she first dined in the restaurant, located in Manhattan's upper east side, on Saturday, January 22.
Yesterday, January 26, four police officers were reportedly seen near the restaurant while Palin was eating in the restaurant's outdoor dining area, a source told Mediaite. However, it is unclear whether the police presence was connected to the politician.
The restaurant is not under investigation for allowing Palin to sit inside on Saturday, despite New York's vaccine mandate prohibiting unvaccinated people from being seated indoors.
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The manager of Elio's, Luca Guacitolini, explained that on Wednesday, Palin had returned to the venue to apologise.
He said: 'Tonight Sarah Palin returned to the restaurant to apologise for the fracas around her previous visit. In accordance with the vaccine mandate and to protect our staff, we seated her outdoors. We are a restaurant open to the public, and we treat all civilians the same.'
Another employee of the restaurant said: 'S-happens! People come to eat, we are not the border police.'
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Palin has now tested positive for coronavirus twice, after she first caught it in March 2021.
Reporter Jane Wester said Palin was 'confused' by the lines on her PCR and rapid PCR test, and subsequently went to 'a nearby urgent care, where she took a third rapid test and it was positive, her lawyer says'.
The politician has made no attempt to hide her views on the vaccine, stating that she would get it 'over her dead body'.
However, as a result of testing positive for a second time, the former governor's defamation lawsuit against The New York Times has been delayed, with the federal trial now set to take place on February 3, unless Palin exhibits any symptoms on the day.
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Webster said Palin 'could theoretically participate remotely, but lawyers for both sides say they want her to testify live'.
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Poppy Bilderbeck