Italian Nurse Takes Selfie To Show Damaging Effects Of Treating Coronavirus

The physical effects of her job are clearly visible on her face, with sore red marks across her cheeks, nose and forehead.

Bonari explained medical professionals are facing many challenges in their line of work, with protective devices that aren't always sufficient - in turn making them 'physically tired'.

Roughly translated from Italian, her caption read: "I am a nurse and right now I am facing this medical emergency.

"I'm afraid too, but not going to go shopping, I'm afraid to go to work.

"I am afraid because the mask may not adhere well to the face, or I may have accidentally touched myself with dirty gloves, or maybe the lenses do not completely cover my eyes and something may have passed.

"I am physically tired because the protective devices are bad, the lab coat makes you sweat and once dressed I can no longer go to the bathroom or drink for six hours.

"I am psychologically tired, and as are all my colleagues who have been in the same condition for weeks, but this will not prevent us from doing our job as we have always done.

"I will continue to take care of my patients, because I am proud and in love with my job."

Bonari called on others to be vigilant as she and her colleagues work hard to treat people, encouraging them to honour Italy's quarantine and help 'protect those who are most fragile'.

Her post continued: "What I ask anyone who is reading this post is not to frustrate the effort we are making, to be selfless, to stay at home and thus protect those who are most fragile.

"We young people are not immune to coronavirus, we too can get sick, or worse.

"I can't afford the luxury of going back to my quarantined house, I have to go to work and do my part. You do yours, I ask you please."

Bonari's post has since gone viral, racking up 600,000 likes and hundreds of comments, with Instagrammers praising Bonari for her continued hard work.

Italy has the highest death toll from Covid-19 outside of China, with 631 fatalities as a result of the virus.

At the time of writing, there are 10,149 confirmed cases in the country.