The pandemic of COVID-19 has devastated Italy, one of the United States' closest and oldest allies.  The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will provide critically needed assistance to mitigate the overwhelming disruption the pandemic has had on the delivery of health care in communities throughout Italy and the country's economic stability.  The assistance will help improve Italian citizens' access to essential health care and assist them to recover from the impact of the pandemic and re-enter, contribute to, and stabilize the economy. 

With this support, USAID will support, supplement, and expand the work of international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and faith-based groups that are responding directly to the pandemic in Italy and mitigating its social and community impact.  USAID also will purchase health supplies for Italy that are not required for the U.S. domestic response to the pandemic. In addition, USAID will support Italian businesses that are engaged in the research, development, or manufacture of therapeutics, vaccines and medical equipment and supplies for COVID-19, including to assist Italian factories and supply-chains to adapt to the needs of health-care personnel and patients.

Over the last 20 years, the United States has invested more than $140 billion dollars in health and humanitarian assistance around the world, including more than $1 billion dollars to strengthen the capacity of governments and other partners to prevent, detect, and, respond to existing and emerging infectious-disease threats to protect the United States.  Because an infectious-disease threat anywhere can become a threat everywhere, the United States calls on other donors to contribute to the global effort to combat COVID-19.