Update
#70
COVID-19 Emergency
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No New Confirmed Cases, Now 24 Days Since Last New Case in Big Bear
Sufficient Hospital, Ventilator Capacity in San Bernardino County
City, Visit Big Bear, Chamber Provide Free Masks in The Village
July 4 Fireworks Decision Expected Later In June
Household Hazardous Waste Site Now Open Again in Big Bear Lake
Help Us Keep Big Bear Lake SAFE and OPEN!
We Are Glad to Welcome Visitors, But Need You to Do Your Part!
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THIS IS THE OFFICIAL GUIDANCE FROM THE CITY OF BIG BEAR LAKE
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The City of Big Bear Lake is working hard to ensure that the residents, second home owners, investors, businesses, and visitors in our community have the correct information about the status of COVID-19 threats in Big Bear Lake and the City's response to these threats.
This email newsletter is the official guidance from the City of Big Bear Lake, and the City appreciates everyone's adherence to the restrictions and recommendations 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 Frank A. Rush, Jr., City Manager, at 909-866-5832 or via
email.
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!
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NO NEW CONFIRMED CASES, NOW 24 DAYS SINCE LAST NEW CASE IN BIG BEAR
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Thankfully,
there are no new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Big Bear Valley again today.
The total cumulative case count, according to San Bernardino County public health officials, in the Big Bear Valley is
9 cases - with
6 reported for the City of Big Bear Lake and
3 in unincorporated areas.
It is important to note that these are cumulative totals since reporting began in early March, and that most of these individuals have fully recovered by now, and have resumed normal activities. Thankfully, there have been no deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the Big Bear Valley.
In recent weeks, it's important to point out that
there has been only
1
new confirmed case in the Big Bear Valley in the past month, and
0
new cases in the past
24
days.
The County reports a total of
5,355 confirmed cases in all of San Bernardino County. A total of
62,989 tests have been administered thus far in the County, with
8.5% testing positive for COVID-19. Sadly, a total of
204 people have now died from COVID-19 in San Bernardino County.
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SUFFICIENT HOSPITAL, VENTILATOR CAPACITY IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
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Thankfully, the health care systems in both the Big Bear Valley and San Bernardino County have maintained sufficient hospital and ventilator availability for the duration of the COVID-19 event.
There are approximately 6,000 hospital beds in San Bernardino County, and it is also important to note that the County has specifically identified 1,211 "surge capacity" beds (the number of additional beds a hospital could provide if all available space was needed) in response to the COVID-19 event. The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in San Bernardino County peaked on April 10, more than 7 weeks ago, with 451 patients hospitalized.
According to the latest County data, there are currently
225
COVID-19 patients hospitalized in San Bernardino County.
According to the latest San Bernardino County data, there are a total of
64
COVID-19 patients in intensive care. There are currently 203 intensive care beds still available in San Bernardino County. The number of ICU patients also peaked on April 10, more than 7 weeks ago, with 124 patients in ICU.
According to the latest San Bernardino County data, COVID-19 patients are currently utilizing
49 ventilators out of the 793 ventilators in our County. There are a total of 165 ventilators currently being utilized by patients with other ailments, and a total of 579 ventilators remain available.
Since May 1, there have never been less than 541 ventilators available in San Bernardino County.
Thankfully, Bear Valley Community Hospital and Big Bear Fire / EMS officials continue to experience manageable patient loads and call volumes. Bear Valley Community Hospital is equipped with more than 30 hospital beds and 7 ventilators, but it
is important to note that any COVID-19 patients would likely be transferred to larger hospitals in San Bernardino County (perhaps Loma Linda, Arrowhead, or others) where more specialized care is available. Thus, it is critically important for the City to monitor overall trends in San Bernardino County.
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CITY, VISIT BIG BEAR, AND CHAMBER PROVIDE FREE MASKS IN THE VILLAGE
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The City of Big Bear Lake, Visit Big Bear, and the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce partnered together this past weekend to educate visitors and provide free face masks to anyone who needed a mask. T
his effort was well-received by our visitors and businesses, and staff and volunteers distributed more than 2,000 free masks!
The
City greatly appreciates the partnership with Visit Big Bear and the Chamber for this effort, and plans to set up again this coming weekend. Tents will again be set up on Pine Knot Drive near Copper Q and one on Village Drive near Barrel 33 from 10 am - 5 pm on June 6 and 7.
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JULY 4 FIREWORKS DECISION EXPECTED LATER IN JUNE
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The City and Visit Big Bear have partnered this year to produce the annual July 4 fireworks show, and
we look forward to continuing this great annual tradition!
As of now, the July 4 fireworks show is still on. We continue to monitor COVID-19 conditions in Big Bear Lake, and continue to monitor applicable COVID-19 restrictions. We should know by mid or late June if the show will be postponed, and additional information will be included in future City COVID-19 updates as we get closer to July 4.
The City and Visit Big Bear continue to contemplate various strategies to offer the July 4 fireworks in a safe manner, and will include recommendations for viewing the fireworks in future City COVID-19 updates.
The City / Visit Big Bear contract includes a clause allowing the City to postpone and reschedule the fireworks show for any date prior to October 31, and this clause will be exercised if ultimately necessary.
Again, as of now, we are still planning for fireworks on July 4. Stay tuned!
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HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE NOW OPEN AGAIN IN BIG BEAR LAKE
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After several weeks of closure by the County due to COVID-19, the
Big Bear Lake household hazardous waste disposal site is now open again. The site is located at the City's Public Works facility on Garstin Drive, and is open every Saturday from 9 am - 2 pm. For more information on materials accepted at this location and disposal rules, please click
here.
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HELP US KEEP BIG BEAR LAKE SAFE AND OPEN!
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Fortunately, Big Bear Lake has remained one of the safest places anywhere throughout the COVID-19 event, and the City is working hard with our partners to keep it that way!
We need your help, however, to keep Big Bear Lake SAFE and OPEN!
The City is pleased that there has been a low incidence of COVID-19 in our community for the duration of this crisis, and is pleased that we've reached the point where life is returning to normal (at least somewhat) and that our businesses are open again.
The City's philosophy all along has been and continues to be that ALL businesses should be allowed to open and that distinctions should not be made between different types of businesses, and that appropriate behavior by EVERYONE is the fairest and most beneficial strategy to keep our community safe and vibrant. Thus, it is critical for all businesses to act responsibly and implement appropriate health and safety measures to keep our community safe in the future. In addition to our businesses, it's critical for our residents and our visitors to be equally diligent, and do everything you can to help keep our community safe!
EVERYONE is reminded to adhere to the following recommendations:
- if you are not feeling well, please stay away from others, see a health care professional, and/or get tested as soon as possible,
- if you are especially vulnerable to COVID-19, please take extra precautions and avoid direct interactions with others to the maximum extent practical,
- carry a face covering with you, and WEAR IT for all interactions with others - in a business or in a crowded outdoor environment,
- maintain at least 6 feet of separation from others whenever possible, and
- wash your hands frequently, and/or use hand sanitizer.
Now more than ever, as we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, it's important for all of us to do our part - and keep Big Bear Lake SAFE and OPEN!
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WE ARE GLAD TO WELCOME VISITORS, BUT NEED YOU TO DO YOUR PART!
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The City, our businesses, and our residents have all worked hard for the past 10 weeks+ to keep our community safe, and
we're pleased to be one of the safest places anywhere.
We truly want others to enjoy this special place, and
we welcome our visitors' significant contributions to our community. We do, however, need
ALL visitors to respect our community, act responsibly, and be especially mindful of our COVID-19 concerns. The City asks ALL visitors to adhere to the following:
- if you are not feeling well, please stay away!
- enjoy Big Bear Lake with your immediate family or immediate household, and please don't organize large gatherings or parties in Big Bear Lake (note: vacation rentals are limited to members of the same immediate household),
- whenever possible, please patronize our local restaurants who are eager to serve you, and also bring supplies from your home community,
- respect our permanent residents, and act responsibly in and around our community - the same way you'd want visitors to behave in your community,
- consider the fact that you may unknowingly be carrying COVID-19 from your home community, and take appropriate precautions to help keep our community safe so we may continue to welcome visitors in the future,
- carry face coverings at all times, and use them during all interactions with others,
- always maintain at least 6 feet of separation from others whenever possible, and
- wash your hands frequently, and/or use hand sanitizer whenever it's not possible to wash your hands,
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PLEASE GET TESTED IF YOU HAVE THESE COVID-19 SYMPTOMS
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With communities all over California reopening, including Big Bear Lake,
it is more important than ever to quickly identify COVID-19 cases and take appropriate steps to quarantine infected individuals and engage in contract tracing as quickly as possible. With COVID-19 testing now readily available, the City e
ncourages EVERYONE with potential COVID-19 symptoms to get tested immediately.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, p
eople with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus
, and may include:
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- new loss of taste or smell
If you have one or more of these symptoms, please call your medical provider or visit one of the County's COVID-19 test sites as soon as possible.
It's in your best interest, your family's best interest, and our community's best interest to diagnose any new cases as quickly as possible.
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MOST BUSINESSES IN BIG BEAR LAKE MAY NOW OPERATE IN COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNOR'S RESILIENCE ROADMAP
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From a practical standpoint, Governor Newsom's actions in late May now
allow most businesses (including churches) in Big Bear Lake to operate in compliance with the
Governor's Resilience Roadmap .
The following types of businesses appear to be the only businesses in Big Bear Lake that are not permitted to operate at this time under the Governor's Resilience Roadmap: traditional lodging facilities, the movie theater, the bowling alley, the convention center, gyms and fitness centers, bars, music venues, tattoo parlors, and nail salons - until such time that the Governor authorizes a progression to future stages of the Governor's Resilience Roadmap. The City is hopeful that the Governor will officially lift these restrictions in the near future,
as there do not appear to be any greater health risks associated with the operation of these businesses than other permitted businesses IF appropriate health and safety measures are implemented.
The City encourages all businesses to implement appropriate measures to promote the health and safety of employees, patrons, and our residents. The City continues to encourage all businesses not currently permitted to operate under the Governor's Resilience Roadmap to take responsibility for their own actions, thoughtfully consider the Governor’s orders and the risks associated with their specific circumstances (including health, legal, financial, and licensing), and act accordingly.
Risks of reopening certain businesses contrary to the Governor’s orders might include loss of State licenses applicable to certain businesses, among others. As communicated previously, the City no longer intends to take enforcement action with regard to the Governor's orders.
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BIG BEAR LAKE BUSINESSES SHOULD FOLLOW GOVERNOR'S RESILIENCE ROADMAP FOR BUSINESS-SPECIFIC GUIDANCE
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In order to eliminate confusion for our business owners,
the City advises all City businesses to adhere to business-specific guidance included in the
Governor's Resilience Roadmap when reopening:
- Childcare facilities - click here
- Churches and other places of worship - click here
- Construction businesses - click here
- Delivery services - click here
- Hair salons and beauty shops - click here
- Real estate transactions - click here
- Retail establishments - click here
- Service industries - click here
- Shopping centers - click here
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COVID-COMPLIANT BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM OFFERS $2,500 GRANTS TO BUSINESSES TO OPERATE SAFELY
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San Bernardino County is helping small businesses operate safely and stay open through its new COVID-Compliant Business Partnership Program.
Funding is available to businesses who enforce physical distancing, require customers and employees to wear face coverings, and practice prudent hygiene.
Small businesses can receive up to $2,500 to implement these measures
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Big Bear businesses can learn more and apply
here.
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Stay Informed!
Sign up for City of BBL Updates,
Visit Our Other Digital Platforms
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The City of Big Bear Lake strives to keep our residents, property owners, investors, businesses, and visitors well-informed about the City's issues and initiatives - including the COVID-19 event - with an emphasis on information specific to Big Bear Lake and the entire Big Bear Valley.
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.
In addition to the City's email updates, you can also get the latest information from the City of Big Bear Lake via the following digital platforms:
- Visit our website by clicking here
- "Like" us on Facebook - City of Big Bear Lake
- Follow us on Twitter - @CityofBBL
- Follow us on Instagram - @citybigbearlake
- Sign up for text message alerts by clicking here .
Please help us spread the word, and share the City's digital communications platforms with your family, friends, other residents, property owners, frequent visitors, or anyone else who is interested in Big Bear Lake. Thank you!
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Frank A. Rush, Jr., City Manager
City of Big Bear Lake
39707 Big Bear Blvd. PO Box 10000, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Phone: (909) 866-5831 | Fax: (909) 866-5491
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