Time for a change as response to COVID-19 shifts gears towards vaccinations.

Effective February 5, Mono County Emergency Medical Services Chief Chris Mokracek transitioned into the role of Director of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), relieving Mammoth Lakes Fire Protection Chief Frank Frievalt.

Frank Frievalt Fire Chief Mammoth Lakes Fire Protection District

Mammoth Lakes Fire Protection Chief Frank Frievalt steps down as Director of EOC

After 47 weeks of collaborative and determined leadership, Chief Frievalt will transition back to his daily duties with the Mammoth Lakes Fire Protection District.

The EOC was established in March 2020 to provide a systematic, strategic and coordinated response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. Mono County, the Town of Mammoth Lakes and Mono County Public Health, in coordination with Mammoth Hospital, are working in a single coordinated Unified Command (UC) structure, led by the EOC Director.

Decisions are made in accordance with five objectives of the UC’s overall value structure, which guide actions related to this pandemic:

  • Provide for public and response workforce safety;
  • Mitigate the speed of COVID-19 spread (flatten the curve);
  • Deliver timely, accurate and transparent information about COVID-19 spread and how it is being managed;
  • Mitigate phobia with facts; and,
  • Conduct economic recovery based on epidemiologic risk such that future infection rates do not require Public Health mitigation which would halt or reverse economic recovery.

The progression of the pandemic response is shifting as the EOC continues to actively support the administration of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Chief Mokracek has managed Operations and Community Support for the EOC since its inception and has an intimate knowledge of the logistics needed to address and direct local response to the virus as we navigate through the local vaccination plan, continued COVID-19 testing and ongoing community support efforts.

TomBoo

Mono County Public Health Officer, Dr. Tom Boo

In addition, Dr. Tom Boo, Mono County Public Health Officer, has elected to not renew his contract but has graciously offered to remain in his role until April 2021, despite his contract expiring on Friday, February 5.  Mono County will be recruiting for a Public Health Officer during this transition.

Additional information regarding the Blueprint for a Safer Economy is available online or by visiting the Mono County COVID-19 Portal in English or Spanish.

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