Italy allocated $4.8 billion (€4.3 billion) to provide food and medicine for victims of the economic crisis triggered by the coronavirus lockdown, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced from Rome Saturday.

"In this emergency, some people are unable to feed their children, we also have hundreds of requests for help every day," said Antonio Di Caro, mayor of Bari and president of the Italian Cities Association. "This intervention will involve zero bureaucracy and will allow an immediate response from social services (for those in need)."

Next week, that funding and an additional $446 million (€400 million) from the Italian Civil Protection Agency will be given to mayors to "distribute bonuses to families or food packages," Conte said.