French health workers carry a patient on a stretcher from Mulhouse hospital before a helicopter transport on March 23, 2020.

France's Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Wednesday said healthcare staff working in areas most impacted by the new coronavirus would receive a bonus of 1,500 euros ($1,637) as well as higher pay than usual for their extra hours.

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Philippe was speaking after a cabinet meeting that decided on a 110 billion euros rescue package to support the economy through the coronavirus crisis.

Philippe says France’s emergency package has been more than doubled to reach 110 billion euros ($120 billion) in aid for businesses and workers hard-hit by the virus crisis.

This plan includes 24 billion euros ($26 billion) for workers on partial unemployment because their companies have shut down amid the country’s lockdown since March 17. It also includes 8 billion euros (8.7 billion) for emergency health expenses, including masks and medical equipment, and a special aid allocated to French poorest households.

France is forecasting an 8% drop in growth this year because of virus confinement measures as it faces its worst recession since World War II.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)

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