Coronavirus: More than 60 doctors have died during Italy’s outbreak

At least 66 doctors have died in Italy during its coronavirus outbreak.

Among the latest casualties include Roberto Mileti, a gynaecologist from Rome, Guido Riva, a GP from Bergamo, and Gaetana Trimarchi, a GP from Messina, who all reportedly died on Monday.

Their names joined more than 60 other doctors on a list updated daily by the National Federation of Orders of Surgeons and Dentists.

The organisation said: “Many doctors are dying suddenly, even if their cause of death is not directly linked to the virus, because a test does not get done.”

They described the list as “a warning, a lesson for everyone”.

Nearly 9,000 health care workers have been infected with coronavirus in Italy, according to National Institute of Health figures on Monday.

The country has been in lockdown for several weeks as authorities work to combat the spread of the disease, which can give carriers flu-like symptoms and can develop into pneumonia.

A group of Italian doctors recently warned other countries to make sure they have sufficient protective equipment for medical staff following Italy’s experience during its large outbreak.

Shortages have led to health professionals being infected or forced to stay at home after being exposed to the virus, they wrote in a paper published by the Italian Society of Anaesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care.

In Brescia – one of Italy’s hardest-hit areas by the virus – engineers have produced masks and valves for patients’ breathing machines after hearing their local hospital was running short.

More than 110,000 people have been infected with coronavirus to date in the country, according to the latest figures, with around 14,500 people beating the disease.

The death toll stood at around 11,500 on Tuesday.

Source: The Independent