Pastor who prayed against mask mandate is in ICU with coronavirus

https://news.yahoo.com/pastor-prayed-against-mask-mandate-153958196.html

Elisha Fieldstadt
,NBC News•September 18, 2020

An Idaho pastor who called himself a "no-masker" and prayed with his congregation against a local mask ordinance has been in a hospital intensive-care unit with Covid-19 for more than two weeks.

Pastor Paul Van Noy of Candlelight Christian Fellowship in Coeur d’Alene also wrote on Facebook in July, "It has been clearly and scientifically proven that many masks do not aid in the prevention of Covid-19 transmission. I have said here at Candlelight, 'If a person wants to wear a mask they should be allowed to do so. However, if they don’t, that’s ok too.'"

"One additional thought for those who are believers in Jesus. There is no need to fear the cause or effect of Covid-19," he added.

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Van Noy's wife, Brenda, also got the coronavirus, but was recovering when she wrote on Facebook earlier this month that she hadn't "taken this Covid seriously enough."

"I’m humbled. I have Covid and some of my friends have Covid now but more seriously my husband is in critical care in ICU with Covid and it is serious. Please take this serious," she wrote.