The New York Times: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered beef and poultry processing plants to stay open to protect the food supply in the United States, despite Coronavirus safety concerns, drawing a backlash from unions that said at-risk workers required more protection.

With concerns about food shortages and supply chain disruptions, Trump issued an executive order using the Defense Production Act to mandate that the meat-processing plants continue to function.

The executive order said, “Such closures threaten the continued functioning of the national meat and poultry supply chain, undermining critical infrastructure during the national emergency.”

Critics said the forced openings – some plants have closed because so many employees contracted the deadly virus – threaten the safety of workers who remain vulnerable to the disease.

Trump also told reporters he would seek to shield meat plants from legal liability if they are sued by employees who contract coronavirus while on their duty.

While Trump only mentioned Tyson Foods specifically, he suggested his plan would protect other businesses from liability as well.

Trump Faults China for not curbing COVID-19

Earlier, President Trump yet again while faulting China for the spread of Coronavirus, said China could have stopped the virus spread before it swept the globe.

President of the United States said to reporters that his administration conducting “serious investigations” into what happened.

“We’re doing very serious investigations … We are not happy with China,”

“There are a lot of ways you can hold them accountable.”

“We believe it could stopped at the source.”

“It could have been stopped quickly and it wouldn’t have spread all over the world.”

“We haven’t determined the final amount yet,”  “It’s very substantial.”

“This is worldwide damage,” he said. “This is damage to the US, but this is damage to the world.”