ICN confirms 1,500 nurses have died from COVID-19 in 44 countries and estimates that healthcare worker COVID-19 fatalities worldwide could be more than 20,000

ICN confirms 1,500 nurses have died from COVID-19 in 44 countries and estimates that healthcare worker COVID-19 fatalities worldwide could be more than 20,000 The International Council of Nurses’ latest analysis shows that the number of nurses who have died after contracting COVID-19 is 1,500, up from 1,097 in August. The figure, which includes nurses from only 44 of the world’s 195 countries, is known to be an underestimate of the true numbers of deaths. ICN’s own analysis suggests that about 10% of cases globally are among healthcare workers. As of this week there are more than 43 million cases worldwide with approximately 2.6% of those, 1.1 million, resulting in deaths. ICN - International Council of Nurses

The International Council of Nurses’ latest analysis shows that the number of nurses who have died after contracting COVID-19 is 1,500, up from 1,097 in August. The figure, which includes nurses from only 44 of the world’s 195 countries, is known to be an underestimate of the true numbers of deaths.

ICN’s own analysis suggests that about 10% of cases globally are among healthcare workers.

As of this week there are more than 43 million cases worldwide with approximately 2.6% of those, 1.1 million, resulting in deaths.

Even if the case fatality ratio among the more than four million healthcare workers infected is only 0.5%, in excess of 20,000 healthcare workers could have died from the virus.

Speaking during the Nightingale 2020 virtual conference on October 27-28, ICN Chief Executive Officer Howard Catton said:

“The fact that as many nurses have died during this pandemic as died during World War I is shocking. Since May 2020 we have been calling for the standardised and systematic collection of data on healthcare worker infections and deaths, and the fact that is still not happening is a scandal....