工人爆發疫情感染
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted US meat production, stoking fears that a nationwide meat shortage is on its way.
新冠肺炎疫情打亂了美國肉品生產，令人擔憂全國肉品短缺的情況即將到來。
disrupt(v.)打斷;中斷;擾亂stoke(v.)煽動;激起stoking…=which stokes…on its way即將發生
According to the US Department of Agriculture’s weekly report on April 27, beef production slumped nearly 25% from a year ago, and pork production was down 15%.
根據美國農業部4月27日發佈的每週報告，牛肉產量較去年同期驟降將近25％，豬肉產量下降15％。
slump(v.)大幅下降;暴跌(n.)不景氣;蕭條a slump in the economy 經濟不景氣
While the Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, said the US has “plenty of food for all of its citizens,” the number of pigs slaughtered each day has plunged by nearly 50% since mid-March.
儘管農業部長帕度表示，美國「有充足的食物供應給所有公民」，但從3月中以來，每天屠宰豬的數量已經大減將近50％。
Secretary of Agriculture 農業部長the Foreign Secretary 外交大臣slaughter(n.)(v.)屠殺、宰殺plunge=tumble=plummet =slump 重挫;暴跌;驟降;銳減
Some meat processing plants have temporarily shut down due to outbreaks among workers, dealing a major blow to slaughter capacity.
由於工人爆發疫情感染，有些肉類加工廠暫時關閉，對屠宰產能造成重大打擊。
temporarily(adv.)暫時地deal a blow to打擊dealing a major blow to…=which dealt a major blow to…
Last month, Tyson Foods, one of America’s largest meat producers, warned about a faltering food supply chain in an advertisement placed in national newspapers.
上個月，美國數一數二的肉品生產商泰森食品在全國報紙刊登廣告，警告食品供應鏈恐不穩定。
supply chain 供應鏈faltering(adj.)步履蹣跚的、不穩定的placed in…=which was placed in…place an advertisement登廣告
“There will be limited supply of products,” the Arkansas-based company said, until it can reopen closed facilities.
這家總部位於阿肯色州的公司表示，在工廠復工之前，「產品供應有限」。
facility(n.)設施medical facilities醫療設施sports facilities體育設施
Experts say more plant shutdowns will likely lead to shortages of meat at some grocery stores.
專家表示，更多工廠停工可能會導致有些雜貨店肉品短缺。
shutdown(n.)關閉;停工
“I wouldn’t say the food system is breaking, but at least the meat sector is in a really serious, critical condition at the moment,” said Jayson Lusk, the head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University.
普渡大學農業經濟系主任拉斯克說：「我不會說食品系統正在瓦解，但至少肉品業目前處於真正嚴重的危急狀態。」
the meat sector肉品業=the meat industrycritical(adj.)危急的;危險的;關鍵性的;決定性的a critical decision重大決定
To prevent shortages of pork, chicken and other products, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to keep meatpacking plants open.
為了防止豬肉、雞肉和其他產品短缺，川普總統簽署行政命令，讓肉品加工廠持續運作。
executive order行政命令
Growing fears of a meat shortage have had shoppers stocking up on meat, but experts warn panic buying will only exacerbate shortages.
肉品短缺的疑慮日益加劇，促使消費者囤積肉品，但專家警告稱，恐慌性購買只會使得短缺情況更加惡化。
stock up on囤積panic buying恐慌性購買panic(n.)(v.)恐慌;驚慌exacerbate(v.)使惡化;使加重=worsen
“We’re not going to run out of meat,” Steve Meyer, an economist for Kerns & Associates said. “Buy what you need, and leave some for somebody else, and I think we’ll all get through this OK.”
農業風險管理公司Kerns & Associates的經濟學家梅爾說：「我們的肉不會不夠，買你所需要的，留一些給別人，我想我們會度過難關。」
get through something度過難關