Manitoba's health minister says the province should be given priority from the federal government for new COVID-19 rapid testing equipment.

Cameron Friesen told delegates via video conference at the Progressive Conservative annual general meeting on Saturday that Ottawa should make sure Manitoba is at the front of the line because it has so many COVID-19 cases.

“The rapid testing, deployed strategically, could be a game-changer,” Friesen told delegates. “And that is why it’s up to the feds right now to make sure that Manitoba should be at the front of the line, considering our case positivity rate, to be eligible on a priority basis to receive and deploy these devices.”

Manitoba health officials reported 385 new COVID-19 cases and 10 additional deaths yesterday.

The province has, for weeks, recorded the highest per-capita rate of new infections in Canada.