In accordance with the Defense Production Act, US President Donald Trump has ordered General Motors prioritize the production of ventilators as the country attempts to treat those diagnosed with or experiencing symptoms from the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.
“Today, I signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to use any and all authority available under the Defense Production Act to require General Motors to accept, perform, and prioritize Federal contracts for ventilators,” the US president said via White House news release from the Office of the Press Secretary.
“Today’s action will help ensure the quick production of ventilators that will save American lives,” he concluded.
General Motors spokesman Daniel Flores fired back at the US president’s assertion that they were dragging their feet in negotiations.
Earlier Friday, Trump issued multiple tweets concerning ventilators and General Motors – including one post that called on the corporation to use its assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, which was sold to a start-up back in November 2019.
Speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity on his self-titled opinion show on Thursday, Trump did not appear too concerned about the estimated number of ventilators needed to treat COVID-19 patients.
While Trump has been highlighting the state of the economy and the country’s need to resume work, the US has been experiencing an increasing number of COVID-19-related deaths and, on Thursday, surpassed China for the most amount of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in the world.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
