This email newsletter is the official guidance from the City of Big Bear Lake, and the City appreciates everyone's adherence to the guidance outlined herein. This email newsletter also serves as the City's official press release regarding the City's COVID-19 response, and press inquiries may be directed to City Manager Frank Rush at 909-866-5832 or via email.

The City issues these COVID-19 updates weekly on Tuesdays, and also as otherwise warranted as significant or new information emerges. To be sure you are receiving the latest and most accurate information, please sign up for this email newsletter by clicking here . PLEASE share this email newsletter with anyone and everyone, as we want to reach as many people as possible with this information. Thank you!

The City continues to work closely with San Bernardino County officials, and plans are being developed now for the City to host daily vaccination clinics at the Big Bear Lake City Hall as soon as vaccine supplies become available. Dates will be announced as the details are finalized.

San Bernardino County is currently offering vaccinations at 6 clinics throughout the County, including Hesperia and San Bernardino. The vaccines are currently available to front line health care workers only in the Phase 1A, Tier 1 and Tier 2 classifications. For a complete list of vaccination phases, please click here. The County hopes to move to Phase 1A, Tier 3 within the next week, which would also enable workers at laboratory clinics, dental clinics, and pharmacy personnel to be vaccinated.

If you are a Big Bear resident, and meet the criteria for Phase 1A, Tier 1 and Tier 2, you can make an appointment for vaccination by clicking on the link here.

According to the latest data from San Bernardino County, there have now been a cumulative total of 767 confirmed COVID-19 cases since mid-March. Of this total, there have been 262 cases in the City of Big Bear Lake, 423 cases in Big Bear City, 72 cases in Sugarloaf, and 10 cases in Fawnskin.

The City receives Big Bear-specific information from San Bernardino County contact tracers. The most recent report indicates that 714 individuals have recovered, and that there are currently a total of 53 active cases. Official County records indicate 1 confirmed death attributed to COVID-19 in Big Bear.

With an estimated population of 18,941 people in the Big Bear Valley, and 53 currently active cases, approximately 1 in every 357 residents in our community are currently infected.

The State continues to report "adjusted" ICU availability of 0% in the Southern California Region, and these adjusted numbers have been at 0% since December 16. Because this metric remains at 0%, and is not forecast to improve in the near future, the State has extended its current restrictions for the Southern California region for at least another week, and likely longer.

The State applies an adjustment factor to the actual ICU availability in each region that is a function of the percentage of ICU patients receiving care for COVID-19 compared to ICU patients receiving care for other ailments. This adjustment factor is applied when more than 30% of ICU patients are receiving care for COVID-19, and has had the effect of pushing the overall "adjusted ICU availability" down to 0% in the Southern California region in recent weeks.

As of January 11, the actual ICU availability in San Bernardino County hospitals is 3.5%, which means there are still a limited number of staffed adult ICU beds available. As of January 11, the State is reporting a total of 35 adult ICU beds available in San Bernardino County. Overall, the State is reporting a total of 1,229 adult ICU beds available Statewide. This number has remained relatively constant for the past 4 weeks.

Bear Valley Community Hospital CEO John Friel provided an update to the City Council at its meeting last night, and expressed his concerns about a potential post-holiday surge. Friel indicated that the hospital is strained, and having more difficulty transferring patients out for a higher level of care, but that the hospital stands ready and able to treat anyone in need of emergency care in the Big Bear Valley.

Bear Valley Community Hospital has been treating COVID-19 patients for the past few weeks, with anywhere from 5 - 10 patients treated at one time. Some patients are ultimately transferred out to larger hospitals, and some are discharged to continue their recovery at home. All COVID-19 patients at Bear Valley Community Hospital are residents of the Big Bear Valley.

Because of the many similarities, the Big Bear Valley is often compared to Mammoth Lakes and South Tahoe. All three communities are mountain / ski resort communities, all three have similar environmental characteristics, demographics, and development patterns, all three are relatively small communities, and all three are somewhat remote from larger population centers in California.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in mid-March, the percentage of the permanent population that has contracted COVID-19 in each community is as follows:

Big Bear Valley - 4.04% of the permanent population has contracted COVID-19 since mid-March,

Mammoth Lakes - 7.21% of the permanent population has contracted COVID-19 since mid-March, and

South Tahoe - 6.22% of the permanent population has contracted COVID-19 since mid-March.

Over just the past 2 weeks, the percentage of the permanent population that has contracted COVID-19 in each community is as follows:

Big Bear Valley - 0.71% of the permanent population has contracted COVID-19 in the last two weeks,

Mammoth Lakes - 1.27% of the permanent population has contracted COVID-19 in the last two weeks, and

South Tahoe - 1.33% of the permanent population has contracted COVID-19 in the last two weeks.

The City continues to partner with San Bernardino County, and has scheduled four new testing events at City Hall:

Each of these testing events will be expanded to 6 hours, and will operate from 9 am to 3 pm. The expanded testing hours will enable us to conduct approximately 500 tests each day.

Appointments are recommended, and the appointment portal is expected to open a few days prior to each testing event. Information about all County testing sites is available here, and Big Bear appointments can be made at the same website.

With COVID-19 cases continuing to increase, and hospital capacity still severely strained, we need EVERYONE to take appropriate health and safety precautions to keep our community safe. It's not asking too much for you to simply do all the right things outlined below:

The easiest way to stay-informed is to sign up for the City's email newsletter and other updates. It's easy to sign up - simply visit the City's website and click on "Text & Email Notifications" in the top center of the homepage. Simply click on the link, enter your name and email address, and you're all set. Signing up will ensure that you receive periodic updates about COVID-19 in Big Bear Lake, the City's new monthly newsletter - Elevation 6752', and other special communications from the City of Big Bear Lake for emergency situations, special events, and more.