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"The colors (green, yellow and red phases) make it simple but green suggests that we are all in the clear," Dr. Jaewon Ryu, Geisinger CEO and president, said. "While there are a lot of positive trends, we are not in the clear."
Ryu said that though numbers continue to decrease in the local areas, now is not the time to gather with large groups of people or participate in social distancing efforts.
"The caution is still something that we need to emphasize," he said. "The distancing efforts and masking is still important."
As of May 29, Geisinger has tested over 23,000 people with 15 percent still testing positive, though there are only 47 patients still hospitalized across the various Geisinger campuses.
With that, Ryu said that Geisinger has been able to close some of the designated COVID-19 patient care areas that were separate from the rest of the hospital.
"That is all good news," he said.
Last week, Geisinger saw its first case of pediatric inflammatory syndrome and since, the patient has been discharged from the ICU and into a regular hospital bed.
"It is something we are continuing to keep our eyes on," Ryu said.
Though there isn't a specific timeline for vaccinations and increased treatment options for COVID-19 positive patients, Ryu said that there are over 100 or so clinical trials going on for the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine, with a hopeful handful of effective vaccines at many health care systems.
"Once we have that meaningful vaccine the measure of how we are dealing with this (COVID-19) will change," he said.
In addition, Geisinger, much like other local healthcare systems, has had to postpone non-emergency procedures, though their hospital and ER has always been open for all emergency care. Many of their operating rooms were closed.
Now, some of the larger campuses are back and working at 85 to 90 percent capacity, though being very careful, utilizing distancing, universal masking and purposeful use of personal protection equipment for the health purposes of staff and patients.
"We are staying prepared in case there is a second wave of the virus," Ryu said. "We are staying very nimble and agile and that has been how we have approached the reopening."