Coronavirus: Number of doctors who have died in Italy rises to 87

List of deaths serves as a 'warning', National Federation of Orders of Surgeons and Dentists says

At least 87 doctors have now died during Italy's coronavirus outbreak.

Among the latest fatalities include Carlo Amodio, a radiologist, and Giovanni Battista Tommasino, a GP, who both reportedly died over the weekend.

Their names were added to a list of doctors' deaths compiled by the National Federation of Orders of Surgeons and Dentists during the pandemic.

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

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

The number of doctors who had died during the outbreak stood at 66 last Tuesday.

More than 12,000 health workers have tested positive for coronavirus in Italy, according to the latest National Institute of Health figures released on Monday.

A group of Italian doctors recently urged other countries to pay heed to their own country's ordeal and make sure their health services have sufficient protective equipment for medics.

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

Italy has been one of the worst-affected countries in the world by the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 128,000 confirmed infections.

The death toll stood at around 15,800 on Monday.

The country has been in lockdown for nearly a month as it tries to limit the spread of Covid-19.