(Bloomberg) -- Italy has earmarked 7.5 billion euros ($8.4 billion) to counter the impact of the coronavirus epidemic in Europe’s virus epicenter.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the country needs extraordinary measures of relief, at a press conference in Rome. Finance Minister Roberto Gualtieri said the government plans to present a stimulus package next week, which will include funds to suspend loan payments from virus-hit companies, resources for health and emergency services.

Italy sees 6.35 billion euros of extra deficit, Gualtieri said.

To contact the reporter on this story: John Follain in Rome at jfollain2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ben Sills at bsills@bloomberg.net, Marco Bertacche, Alessandro Speciale

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