At least 90,000 healthcare workers worldwide are believed to have been infected with COVID-19, and the figure could be possibly twice that, according to the International Council of Nurses (ICN).

The 90,000 estimate is up from a previous 23,000 estimate and is based on information collected on 30 countries from national nursing associations, government figures and media reports.

“The figure for healthcare workers infections has risen from 23,000 to, we think, more than 90,000, but that is still an underestimation because it is not (covering) every country in the world,” said ICN chief executive officer Howard Catton.

Mr Catton, noted that 3.5 million cases of the virus had been reported worldwide.