As of Thursday, 202,306 people have signed the petition urging federal and provincial leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Health Minister Patty Hajdu, to protect frontline workers facing a shortage of N95 respirator masks and surgical masks as well as gloves and face shields.

The Canadian government has acknowledged the shortages in the past and has vowed to do more to protect medical workers.

On Tuesday, a polling data from the Canadian Medical Association revealed that almost 90 percent of the country’s physicians said that a greater access to personal protective equipment would reduce their anxiety levels amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this month, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said that medical workers make up between 7 and 11 percent of the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country.