More than 600 nurses worldwide are known to have died from Covid-19, which has infected an estimated 450,000 healthcare workers, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) said.

The death toll among nurses more than doubled in the past month from 260 on May 6, according to its figures, which are based on data from more than 30 countries, Reuters reports.

The pandemic’s true cost among health professionals was not known, the nurses' association said, renewing its appeal for greater protection for them and systematic collection of reliable data.