South Bay Church Flouts Coronavirus Health Order: Report

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — A South Bay church has been fined for repeatedly violating a coronavirus health order restricting indoor services, The San Jose Mercury News reports.

The North Valley Baptist Church was cited by Santa Clara County for three violations totaling $15,000 according to the report.

The church was issued two $5,000 fines for holding service on Sunday and an additional $5,000 for holding service on Wednesday, the report said.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors enacted an ordinance calling for the enforcement of health orders including mask-wearing to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The fines were issued after the county posted cease-and-desist orders on the church’s door warning that holding indoor services, not complying with mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing requirements violated the county’s health order, the report said.

After the church allegedly continued to flout the health order, officials decided enough was enough according to a statement County Counsel James Williams and Deputy County Counsel Jeremy Avila issued in a letter obtained by The Mercury News.

“North Valley Baptist’s violations are clear, repeated and unacceptable, and they endanger the health and safety of our community,” the statement read.

Williams said the church is not disputing the allegations, and is in fact “proclaiming it,” according to the report.

North Valley Baptist Church pastor Jack Trieber issued a statement Monday in a video in which he disputed the county’s assertion that the church wasn’t adhering to social distancing requirements.

But Trieber insisted that his church won’t base its decision on whether to hold services on county health orders or the warnings of health experts.

“We have the right to worship, and more than a right from the constitution, we have a right from God,” the pastor said.

The pastor’s wife sent an email to church members downplaying the dangers of the coronavirus.

“Take your supplements, and keep your immune system in good working order,” Cindie Trieber said.

“You can survive Covid! It is not a death sentence.”

But she advised congregation members who contract the coronavirus to keep it to themselves.

“By the way, should you get Covid, the less you talk about it, the better off EVERYONE will be!” Cindie Trieber said.

“Doctors will ask you questions, shake their heads, and then turn in their “report” to the county.”