ONE-ON-ONE with Col. Lance Frye: Interim health chief talks new role, post-MDW surge

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma has a new top state health official, as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

Last week, Governor Kevin Stitt named Colonel Lance Frye as the new interim Oklahoma Commissioner of Health. Col. Frye has been involved with he state's COVID-19 response throughout the process, specifically involved in Oklahoma's surge plan.

But Frye jumps in at a precarious time. Not only is the state moving closer to a full reopen, the Colonel officially takes over the day after the Memorial Day weekend, when many fear a surge in numbers is coming.

FOX 25 spoke one-on-one with Col. Frye Tuesday afternoon.

Q: YOU'RE TAKING OVER AS THE STATE'S TOP HEALTH OFFICIAL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORST HEALTH CRISIS IN 100 YEARS. WHAT'S THAT LIKE FOR YOU?

Q: WE'RE COMING OFF MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. ARE YOU EXPECTING TO SEE A SPIKE OR BUMP IN CONFIRMED CASES?

Q: IF WE DO SEE THAT SPIKE, WHAT'S THE PLAN?

Q: WHAT HAS OKLAHOMA DONE WELL THROUGH THE PANDEMIC SO FAR?

Q: WHAT AREAS DOES THE STATE NEED TO GET BETTER?

Q: THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS AROUND MASKS AND WHEN PEOPLE SHOULD BE WEARING THEM. DO YOU THINK PEOPLE SHOULD WEAR THEM IN PUBLIC?

Q: AS THE STATE REOPENS, DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE STILL TAKING THE THREAT OF THE VIRUS SERIOUSLY?

Col. Frye currently serves as the interim department chair, residency program director and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, and State Air Surgeon for the Oklahoma Air National Guard.He entered the United States Air Force in 2005 as a flight surgeon at Nellis AFB.He transitioned to the Air National Guard, moving to Tulsa in 2010.

More on Col. Frye's background here.