Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and the country's multi-industry Agnelli dynasty have pledged 10 million euros ($11 million) each to fight the coronavirus crisis.

"Silvio Berlusconi has decided to make available to the Lombardy region, through a donation, the sum of 10 million euros, necessary to make 400 beds available in intensive care," his Forza Italia party said on Twitter.

The 83-year-old Berlusconi was reported to have left Milan, the capital of Lombardy and epicentre of the country's virus outbreak, for Chateauneuf-Grassein the south-east of France.