 The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for resilient health care systems globally. Governments must take action to ensure their citizens' safety and well-being, but these decisions can have unintended consequences which may affect the ability of health care providers to provide care. This paper examines the impacts of government actions on the resilience of health care systems in Australia and Canada, and suggests that more research is needed into how governments can best support health care providers in times of crisis. This article was authored by Karina Oss.