The nation’s largest manufacturing trade association is urging the federal government as well as state and local leaders to deem their private-sector facilities “essential infrastructure” that wouldn’t be automatically closed under health and safety measures to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

National Association of Manufacturers President Jay Timmons said Thursday in a letter to state and local government groups that the designation was necessary because his group’s members produce many items that are urgently needed during the crisis. Public safety measures introduced in the wake of the virus were not taking this into account.