Amnesty International has published new data, that reveals an estimated 7,000 health workers around the world have now died from Covid-19. According to the analysis, at least 1,320 health workers are confirmed to have died in Mexico alone, the highest known figure for any country.
Amnesty International also recorded high numbers of health worker deaths in the USA (1,077) and Brazil (634), where infection and death rates have been high throughout the pandemic, as well as alarming figures in South Africa (240) and India (573), where infection rates have soared in recent months.
“For over seven thousand people to die while trying to save others is a crisis on a staggering scale”
Steve Cockburn – Head of Economic and Social Justice
The countries with the highest estimated numbers of health workers who have died from COVID-19 include:

- Mexico (1,320)
- USA (1,077)
- UK (649)
- Brazil (634)
- Russia (631)
- India (573)
- South Africa (240)
- Italy (188)
- Peru (183)
- Iran (164)
- Egypt (159)
- Bolivia (130)
Figures for countries may not always be directly comparable due to different methods used to collect data, and definitions of health workers used in different countries. These figures are likely to be a significant underestimate, due to underreporting by many of the countries included in the analysis.
1,320 deaths in Mexico
The number of COVID-19 infections has recently passed seven million in Latin America, and Amnesty International recorded especially high numbers of health worker deaths in Mexico (1320), Brazil (634) and Peru (183).
In Mexico, the official health worker death toll is a staggering 1,320. As of 25 August, the Mexican Ministry of Health confirmed 97,632 cases of COVID 19 among health workers.
There have been reports that hospital cleaners in Mexico are especially vulnerable to infection. Many cleaners in health settings in Mexico are outsourced, which means they have less protection.
Methodology
Working with a data scientist, Amnesty International regularly reviews and collates data related to deaths among health care workers from multiple sources. Sources include memorial pages, government figures, lists compiled by national medical associations, and lists and obituaries published in media around the world.
Cover Photo: Shutterstock file photo
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