The Italian government has approved a 55 million euros ($60 billion) stimulus package to help the country recover from the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis.
The plan will offer financial assistance directly to families and businesses, while also helping the construction, health care, education, culture, retail, hospitality and tourism industries
A total of $27.6 billion will be allocated to support a worker’s layoff fund — which will be extended longer than the maximum length of nine weeks — and other employment-related measures, including a $650 bonus for freelancers workers.
The government is also spending $3.5 billion to shore up its national health care system in the event of a second wave of Covid-19 inside the country.
That money will be used to hire 9,600 new nurses and increase ICU capacity by 115%.
“Some scientists say we will have a second wave — we will be ready,” health minister Roberto Speranza said.
