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VULNERABLE494 appropriate precautions in place for health care providers, regardless of their employment status and of whether they are members of a regulated health care profession. Throughout the pandemic, health care providers have repeatedly alleged that they do not have access to adequate PPE.23 As well, some institutions did not have enough PPE, while others were stockpiling it.24 Perhaps not surprisingly, there were many reports of health care workers who refused to work due to the unavailability of PPE.25 Governments and employers should also be prepared to put a range of other measures in place to protect those who are serving on the front lines. These measures include providing relevant, accessible, and up-to-date information to health care providers; creating stand- alone assessment and testing centres; introducing technologies that mitigate risks to health care providers, such as using telemedicine to assess and treat patients who are suffering from milder forms of the virus and to reduce the burden on the health care system; and ensur- ing that much-needed counselling and mental health supports are in place for health care providers.26 Promoting Disclosure of Important Health and Safety Risks In addition to courageously providing care to patients, health care workers have raised the alarm about unsafe and illegal practices throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Whistleblowing plays an important role in protecting public health by ensuring timely investigation and appropriate response to a public health risk. 23. Ontario Nurses Association, “MEDIA STATEMENT: Health-Care Unions Call for Honest, Frank Collaboration from Ontario Government Regarding COVID- 19 Protection for Health-Care Workers” (11 March 2020), online: ONA <https:// www.ona.org/news-posts/20200311-covid19-joint-statement/>. 24. Andrew Russell, “At Least 2 Toronto Hospitals Begin Rationing Protective Gear as COVID-19 Crisis Deepens”, Global  News (25 March 2020), online: <https://globalnews.ca/news/6731507/coronavirus-ontario-hospitals-protective- gear-rationing-covid-19/>. 25. Tom Blackwell, “Canadian Nurses Treating COVID-19 Patients Cite Unsafe- Work Laws to Demand N95 Masks”, The National Post (31 March 2020), online: <https://nationalpost.com/health/canadian-nurses-working-with-covid-19-pa- tients-demand-legal-right-to-wear-n95-masks>. 26. The Lancet, “COVID-19: Protecting Health-Care Workers” (2020) 395:10228 The Lancet 922.