Sarah Palin tests positive for coronavirus a second time after saying she would get vaccine 'over her dead body'

Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin has tested positive for coronavirus.

It means the 2008 Republican U.S. vice presidential candidate’s defamation trial against The New York Times will be delayed.

Jury selection and opening statements had been expected to begin on Monday, but were pushed back 10 days to Feb. 3 after test results for the 57-year-old Palin became known.

Palin had been potentially expected to testify in person on Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan said “"She is of course unvaccinated,

"Since she has apparently tested positive three times, I'm going to assume that she's positive."

Palin has previously spoken out against mandatory vaccinations, telling a conservative conference: "It will be over my dead body that I'll have to get a shot,"

"I won't do it, and they better not touch my kids either."

She also called Anthony Fauci “the biggest shyster out there.”

Palin is seeking damages from the Times’ former editorial page editor James Bennet for damaging her reputation in a 2017 editorial.

The U.S. District Judge has said she will be allowed back on February 3 if she is “asymptomatic,"

"Ms. Palin's health comes first, and the health of the rest of the courthouse is equally important."