Kenyan nurses have issued a 14-day strike notice to the government, citing the lack of a safe working environment.

Eighteen nurses have died from Covid-19 after treating patients with the virus, the nurses' union Secretary General Seth Panyako said.

He added that once the strike notice lapses, the healthcare workers will not return to work unless their issues are addressed.

They also want the government to declare Covid-19 an occupational hazard and to be provided with comprehensive medical cover.

The notice comes a week after doctors issued a strike notice over the same issues.

There are now more than 70,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Kenya and more than 1,000 deaths have been reported.

More than 30 healthcare workers have died after contracting the virus since the country confirmed its first case in March.