Sarah Palin dines at New York City restaurant days after multiple positive COVID-19 tests

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin dined at a New York City restaurant Wednesday, days after it was confirmed she tested positive for the coronavirus multiple times.

The former Republican vice presidential nominee dined at New York City’s Elio’s. The visit came after her positive coronavirus tests earlier this week delayed a trial over her defamation claims against The New York Times.

Federal Judge Jed Rakoff on Monday said the trial can begin Feb. 3 if Palin has recovered.

"She is, of course, unvaccinated," the judge said in announcing that Palin had received three positive tests for the virus.

Palin previously tested positive in March 2021. She has encouraged people not to get vaccinated against COVID-19, telling an audience in Arizona last month that “it will be over my dead body that I’ll have to get a shot.”

Palin on Wednesday dined outdoors at the New York City restaurant. She also ate indoors at the restaurant on Saturday, a visit that drew attention because New York City requires indoor diners to be vaccinated.

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Elio's said it erred after not checking Palin's vaccine status during her Saturday visit. The restaurant also said in a statement that Palin came back on Wednesday “to apologize for the fracas around her previous visit.”

Her Wednesday visit to the restaurant was first reported by the website Mediaite.

USA TODAY has reached out to Palin’s attorney for comment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that people isolate for five days after the onset of symptoms or a positive test

It is not clear when Palin first tested positive for COVID-19, according to multiple reports.

New York City Hall spokesperson Jonah Allon in a statement to WNYC/Gothamist encouraged “any New Yorker who came into contact with Ms. Palin to get tested, just as we encourage all New Yorkers to get tested regularly, especially those who believe they may have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.”

Palin sued the New York Times in 2017, claiming that the newspaper damaged her reputation through a piece by its editorial board that falsely claimed her political rhetoric played a role in inciting the 2011 shooting of former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords.

Contributing: Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sarah Palin eats at NYC restaurant after testing positive for COVID