According to a source, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez looked to get an early start on New Year’s weekend on Thursday with a mojito in hand enjoying a taste of freedom in the Sunshine State.
According to the National Review, the New York Democrat was photographed dining outside in Miami Beach, Florida, without a mask and with a drink in her hand.
According to the story, the lawmaker and a friend were seen at Doraku Sushi and Izakaya.
The sighting elicited a barrage of sarcastic responses on social media.
“Hey @AOC, tell me you support @RonDeSantisFL without telling me you support @RonDeSantisFL,” another user commented, referring to Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been recognized for anti-coronavirus measures that contrast with many in Democratic-led states.
DeSantis’ office commented on Twitter as well.
Ocasio-Cortez’s pre-holiday vacation occurred while her hometown of New York City was grappling with a record number of first responders calling in ill as New Year’s Eve approached.
According to city authorities, more than 20% of the city’s police officers and 30% of its paramedics were off ill on Thursday.
Meanwhile, new New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who will be inaugurated in on Saturday, indicated Thursday that he intends to maintain outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio’s current coronavirus restrictions, including a vaccine requirement for accessing local businesses.
According to WNBC-TV in New York City, the state of New York also established a new record for coronavirus infections for the second day in a row, reporting more than 74,000 new cases Thursday.
Hospitalizations in the Empire State also increased, reaching more than 7,300, according to the data.
The number of ICU patients in New York surpassed 1,000 on Thursday, breaching the record for the first time since March, according to the station.
In Washington, legislative Republicans were petitioning the United States Supreme Court to overturn President Biden’s vaccination requirement for companies with 100 or more employees, claiming that Biden and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) were overstepping their power.
