U.S. to help Italy wave off the impact of COVID-19

The U.S. President, Donald Trump on Friday, instructed the top administration officials to assist Italy in its fight against the catastrophe caused by the novel coronavirus. Medical facilities, humanitarian services, helping set up field hospitals, transporting supplies are among the services that are included in the proposed aid, to waive off the effects for Italy.

Italy has recorded the most number of deaths followed by the United States.

“The Italian Republic (Italy), one of our closest and oldest Allies, is being ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has already claimed more than 18,000 lives, brought much of the Italian healthcare system to the brink of collapse, and threatens to push Italy’s economy into a deep recession,” Trump said in the memo to several cabinet ministers.

The memo also said that the secretary of state, the head of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the president of the U.S. Export-Import Bank “may use available authorities to support the recovery of the Italian economy.” The President has also urged the commerce secretary of the country, to encourage the U.S. suppliers to sell products that are requested by the Italian health care providers and authorities.

This was followed by a Eurogroup meeting on April 9, where the countries did not agree on sharing the burden of debt across Europe. The only arrangement made for Italy was the arrangement of a loan from the European Stability Mechanism, which is to be directed towards coronavirus-linked health care expenditure. This was inadequate compensation as the country requires far more help to manage the economic collapse and to help the hardest-hit citizens.