August 16, 2021 - COVID-19 Update #136

April 12, 2021 - COVID-19 Update #135

Points of Interest: Updates on vaccination eligibility, Free at-home testing kits for COVID-19, vaccinated adults percentage in Big Bear Lake, County announces rent relief partnership.

March 12, 2021 - COVID-19 Update #134

Points of Interest: San Bernardino County moving to Red Tier, COVID-19 testing on March 17, 2021, and updates on vaccine eligibility. 

March 5, 2021 - COVID-19 Update # 133

Points of Interest: San Bernardino County expected to move to the RED Tier later this month, City Hall COVID-19 testing scheduled for MARCH 17, California state launches new notification system "my turn", and COVID-19 tests in the Valley rise to 14.

Points of interest: Vaccine Appointments at Bear Valley Community Hospital available, Percentage of Big Bear Adult population that has received the vaccine, 22 active cases in Big Bear & 8 deaths attributed to COVID-19, City Council adopts Mask Order and the next testing event is Tuesday, 2/23/2021 at City Hall

February 2, 2021 - COVID-19 Update #130

Support Local Businesses

Many of you are understandably worried in these uncertain times. We are here to support your needs. As a community, we must all come together to help our business community weather tough times. You can do this in many ways:

• Purchase gift cards now for later use
• Order take out or delivery
• Shop local/shop small online
• Share about your favorite local businesses on social media, especially any current news they may have. 
• Outreach directly to a business owner to offer support or kind words
• If events must be postponed or rescheduled, consider not asking for a refund
• Maintain your memberships and giving 
• Check out the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce for more tips & information on how you can assist local business during these unprecedented times

Help for Small Businesses

More Resources

For California Labor Laws, click here.

For the San Bernardino County Workforce guides, click here.

CA Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program: Provides Financial assistance for eligible businesses. DEADLINE IS JANUARY 8, 2020.

SBDC Employer COVID 19 Resource Packet: Provides a variety of resources for COVID-19 disaster relief including loans for qualifying businesses and valuable information for employers and employees.  Download the resource packet to learn more.

Inland Empire Small Business Development Center (IE SBDC): Free resources for small businesses to get consulting and access to capital programs.

CA Department of Public Health: Frequent updates about the COVID-19 virus including State Health Emergency Announcements, Quarantine and Social Distancing Guidelines

CA Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz): The Governor's Office of Business And Economic Development has compiled helpful information about COVID-19 for employers and employees in California

CA Labor and Workforce Development Agency: COVID-19 Resources for Workers and Employers relating to Paid Sick Leave, Disability and Unemployment Insurance, Paid Family Leave, Workplace Health and Safety

CA iBank Small Business Finance Center: California Small Business Loan Guarantee Program and Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Program

CA Treasurer's CalCap Program: Special Loan Program which encourages banks to make loans to small businesses which have difficulty getting financing

SBA Disaster Loan Program (SBA): The Small Business Administration is offering disaster assistance to California Small Businesses economically impacted by Coronavirus

CA Employment Development Department (EDD): For businesses that have employee and employer concerns

Inland Empire Microenterprise Collaborative: This resources is a collection of microlenders who can provide loans up to $75,000.00 to small businesses

City-County Communications and Marketing Association: Another site for businesses and city government to find resources.

California State Assembly: Another site to provide Federal, State and local resources to help businesses maintain operations

Coronavirus is a respiratory virus and is generally spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms of novel coronavirus include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. The City of Big Bear Lake encourages you to follow best practices to keep yourself and others healthy. 

• WEAR A MASK!
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
• Click here to learn more!

To stay up-to-date with the latest official sources, please visit the following links:

• • • San Bernardino County Public Health
    • Centers for Disease Control
    • World Health Organization
    • California Department of Public Health

If you are a resident of Big Bear Lake, the City encourages you to remain vigilant, and adhere to the following recommendations:

• the most vulnerable members of our community should continue to take special precautions, and limit interactions with others to the maximum extent practical.
• all individuals should carry face coverings on their person, for use during all interactions with others
• all individuals should maintain at least 6 feet of separation from others whenever possible,
• all individuals should wash your hands frequently, and/or use hand sanitizer whenever it's not possible to wash your hands,
• all individuals should avoid touching your face,
• all individuals should cover your cough or sneeze,
• if you do travel off the mountaintop, or out of the area, be especially vigilant so you don't contract the virus and return to Big Bear Lake, and importantly, consider the needs of our local business owners and their employees (your neighbors!), and understand the need for our community to get back to work so that we can remain a vibrant,attractive, and cohesive community!

The City, our businesses, and our residents have all worked hard for the past several months 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 permitted, but 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

GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESSES IF AN EMPLOYEE HAS SYMPTOMS OR TESTS POSITIVE

San Bernardino County public health officials have prepared a helpful document to assist businesses if an employee tests positive for COVID-19, and this document can viewed HERE.

In short, any employee with COVID-19 symptoms (or symptoms of any illness) should stay home from work and away from everyone, and businesses should emphasize this message to all employees.

If a business has an employee that tests positive for COVID-19, the employee should stay home from work and away from everyone. Upon learning of the positive case, the business is required to thoroughly disinfect all areas where the employee was working, but is not required to close down for any defined period of time.

The COVID-19 positive employee should remain away from work, and the business should take appropriate steps to notify other employees, should keep any other employees that may have been in close contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more) with the COVID-19 positive employee within 2 days prior to the first symptoms away from work also, and should make sure all employees are closely monitoring for symptoms.

Most importantly, the business should implement proper distancing among patrons and employees, require face coverings, and promote good hygiene.