Washington: US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order under the Defence Production Act compelling meat processing plants to remain open to meet shortages in the nation’s food supply chains, despite reports of plant worker’s deaths due to COVID-19.
Trump had highlighted the order during an Oval Office meeting with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis that was opened up to reporters.
“We’re going to sign an executive order today, I believe, and that’ll solve any liability problems,” CNN quoted the President as saying on Tuesday.
The President signed the order after some companies, such as Tyson Foods were considering only keeping 20 per cent of their facilities open.
The vast majority of processing plants could have shut down, which would have reduced processing capacity in the country by as much as 80 per cent, an official familiar with the order told CNN.
By signing the order, Trump declared that these plants part of critical infrastructure in the US.
The administration is also working with the Department of Labor on issuing guidance about which employees who work at these meat processing facilities should remain at home, including workers who are part of populations most vulnerable to the coronavirus.
When Trump announced the executive order, he also told reporters that his administration was working with Tyson Foods.
With many Americans staying home during the coronavirus, industry experts say the demand for meat has increased.
