A presidential executive order mandating COVID-19 vaccines for organizations with more than 100 employees was recently delayed, but as discussions continue at the federal level, that could have a potential impact on Dallas County. 

Dallas County Director of Human Resources Beth Deardorff says the potential mandate could require Dallas County to gather vaccination statuses for its roughly 300 employees and then there would be multiple avenues to take after that. 

“We would be required to have a testing option for them, or they would have to wear a facemask while they are in the office, or we could require them to be vaccinated.”

Deardorff tells Raccoon Valley Radio recently a stay was put into place so the mandate is currently blocked. Deardorff says her main concern is developing a policy in case the mandate were to be upheld. 

“As of right now Dallas County is not taking any steps to implement this mandate and we will not take any steps until we understand what is going to happen with the legal lawsuits that are pending. So, all of this is just in preparation, just in case we were to have to implement.”

Deardorff says if the mandate were to be upheld she would be heading up the process as the director of human resources for the county.