“We are living through one pandemic, we don’t want to start another pandemic of violence."

Newmarket's Southlake Regional Health Centre said Wednesday it will lay off 95 registered nurses, but plans to hire 81 people into new positions.

They say the move planned by the College of Nurses of Ontario would make the scope of practice for registered nurses and registered practical nurses virtually identical.

The CEO of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario has made the request in a letter to the province's chief medical officer of health.

Ontario's health-care system must shift its focus away from hospitals and towards strong community care for everyone if it hopes to stave off future crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization representing the province's nurses said Tuesday as it called for urgent, sweeping reforms.

"Nurses are not to be impeded in making an assessment and determination at point of care as to what PPE or other measures are appropriate and required under the circumstances."

The association said in a statement Wednesday that long-term care homes pre-COVID-19 were already understaffed, but now they are in "crisis" mode.

Southwestern Ontario hospitals are down to a five-day supply of surgical face masks with face shields and a seven-day supply of N95 1870 masks, according to the union.

On Saturday, the ONA called on St. Mary's General Hospital to "expedite COVID-19 testing" after more than 50 nurses were reportedly exposed to the new coronavirus.

The Ontario Nurses' Association says in a statement that more than 80 nurse practitioners, public health nurses and registered practical nurses voted to accept the new contract Wednesday afternoon.