MANILA (UPDATE) - Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients must now disclose personal information to enhance contact tracing efforts, the government's task force managing the pandemic said Sunday.

"Para po matulungan ang contact-tracing efforts ng ating pamahalaan, mandatory o required na po ang paglalahad ng personal na impormasyon pagdating sa ating mga COVID-19 cases," Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said.

(To improve our contact tracing efforts, it is now mandatory for COVID-19 patients to disclose personal information.)

The Office of Civil Defense, in coordination with other agencies and local governments, will lead contact tracing efforts, Nograles said, citing the inter-agency's Resolution No. 22, approved last Wednesday.

"For this purpose, the DOH (Department of Health) and the OCD are directed to enter into a data-sharing agreement in accordance with Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act," he said.

Doctors and lawyers earlier urged COVID-19 patients and persons suspected of carrying the virus to waive the confidentiality of their medical condition to help authorities conduct timely contact tracing.

• Doctors, lawyers urge COVID-19 patients to waive confidentiality of medical condition

The Integrated Bar of Philippines, the Philippine Medical Association and the Philippine College of Surgeons issued the call following increasing incidents of COVID-19 patients seeking treatment without divulging their true condition, compromising health workers.

"Both the Philippine Medical Association and the Data Privacy Commission provide the ethical and legal basis for this action in times of public health emergency, and the DOJ affirms its validity," Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.

As of Saturday, the Philippines has recorded 4,428 cases of COVID-19, including 247 deaths and 157 recoveries.

• 233 new COVID-19 cases recorded in PH; total now at 4,428

Metro Manila and the entire Luzon, home to about half of the country's 100 million people, is under lockdown until April 30 to address the contagion.