Public Health believes there are many more new COVID-19 cases in Manitoba, citing a large backlog in tests as the cause for the underreporting.
The province is asking only symptomatic people get tested for COVID-19, citing the massive backlog of tests.
"The province has reached its capacity to process COVID-19 specimens at facilities in Manitoba," the province says in a statement. "The province is exploring options to expand laboratory capacity to help alleviate the backlog."
More than 7,500 specimens are waiting for testing. Manitobans will be waiting for at least four days for their test results. Public Health says COVID-19 cases are underreported in Manitoba due to this lag.
Tensions have been rising at test sites, with road rage and arguments becoming common during the many hours of waiting in line.
Cst. Dani McKinnon from the Winnipeg Police Service says they were called once over the past two weeks, on Monday to the testing site on King Edward Street.
"It was a dispute between individuals in vehicles; however, no injuries or fights were reported," she said in an email Wednesday.
The province says Manitobans need to expect to wait in line.
"Manitobans are asked to be patient and kind to others in line as well as those working at the collection sites," the statement says.
On Wednesday, Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Jazz Atwal said testing was busy but could handle the demand.
"Capacity has not been exceeded right now, but it is being pushed and it is increasing our turnaround time," Atwal says. There is a lot of pressure on people. There is a lot of pressure on the system right now. We need to be kind."