With the recent state re-openings and the vaccine rolling out, some Central Coast health officials are hopeful the COVID-19 pandemic will begin to level out.
"I think in regard to COVID-19 that we are hopeful that it'll start to level out," said Michael Keleman, Tenet Health Central Coast Chief Strategy Officer. "I think people are taking it more seriously. I'm seeing more masking."
According to hospital officials, the Tele-ER that Tenet Health recently launched saw a 60% increase in the number of callers.
"If we can decongest the emergency department it allows us to actually manage those COVID patients or the people who are truly sick and need hospital-level services," said Keleman.
Tenet health says, looking ahead, they're concerned about the potential of a wave of chronically ill people coming in for health issues that they have been putting off.
