Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 55; Flight Crew Total 11000; Flight Crew Type 3000
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
Due to COVID-19; ZZZ Tower had reduced staffing resulting in 1 Controller working Tower; Ground Control and Clearance Frequencies.  A relatively nice day and lifting of stay at home restrictions caused a very high amount of air traffic; with a mix of IFR and VFR; with a lot of training and pilots trying to get back to flying.  On departure we leveled at 2;500 feet flying runway heading (departed XXL); once above traffic that was staying in the pattern for XXR; we were given a right turn to 230.  In the right turn to 230; traffic was observed on TCAS at 12 o'clock; same altitude; opposite direction; just outside of a mile; increased rate of turn and initiated a climbed to 3;00 feet to ensure separation; returned to 2;500 feet when clear of traffic on 230 heading. Was handed off to ZZZ1 Departure with no further/other traffic conflicts and no apparent problems arising from our altitude deviation.
GA pilot reported experiencing an airborne conflict during departure having to take evasive action.  Reporter cited an increase in traffic due to the lifting of stay at home restrictions as a contributing factor.