Covid-19 lockdown: Italy injects 400 bn euro into economy to boost business

The civil protection service said the daily number of official Covid-19 deaths rose to 636 on Monday from 525 the day before.

Italy has unveiled a record 400 billion euro ( $430 billion) stimulus to help businesses hurt by a month-long national lockdown that is like to run on for many more weeks.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Monday told the nation to be patient in the face of a pandemic that has now officially claimed 16,523 lives in the Mediterranean country and left millions at least temporarily unemployed "We will soon see a new spring for Italy but for the moment we must stay at home," the Italian leader said in a television address.

The programme will add to the 340