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Former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin has joined the ranks of Republicans who caught COVID-19 after flouting mask requirements and other restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Thursday, Palin revealed that she and several members of her family had recently tested positive for the virus. Palin urged the public to wear masks and said that she was experiencing “bizarre” symptoms.
She also now realizes how contagious the virus is, telling People that her positive diagnosis proves that “anyone can catch this.”
But her statements mark something of a change of heart for Palin. Last year, she made a public show of support for a Dallas, Texas salon owner who was jailed after reopening in violation of COVID-19 restrictions.
Photos show Palin posing with several women at Salon A La Mode. No one is wearing a mask.
Although she did post a message supporting lockdowns on Instagram last spring, through much of the pandemic Palin has posted photos and videos of herself with people outside her family, including former President Donald Trump, without masks.
People on Twitter wasted no time pointing out Palin’s about-face after catching the virus.
Dan Savage tweeted, “Republicans: It happened to you? Fuck you. It happened to me? We need to take this seriously.”
Others expressed similar sentiments about the Alaska’s former governor.
Last week, Alaska expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to people aged 16 and up. It’s not clear if Palin has been vaccinated.