Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv

MANILA - The Philippines does not have enough resources yet to include people without COVID-19 symptoms in a mass testing for the respiratory disease, the health department said Tuesday, nearly a month into the lockdown of millions to stop the pandemic.

The "risk-based" screening will prioritize "critically ill" patients, vulnerable groups like the elderly, pregnant women and those with pre-existing health problems, then health workers, and patients with symptoms of the disease, said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

People who have not yet developed symptoms despite recent travel abroad or exposure to COVID-19 carriers will only be screened when laboratories can already run 8,000 to 10,000 tests per day, she said.

"Hindi po ito ibig sabihin ay lahat ng Pilipino iti-test natin. Hindi rin po ito indiscriminate testing... Sa ngayon po hindi sufficient ang resources natin para maisagawa natin ito," she told DZMM.

(This does not mean that we will test all Filipinos. This won't be an indiscriminate testing. Our resources are not yet enough to do this.)

There are 10 COVID-19 laboratories nationwide. Five other laboratories that the health department accredited Monday would need 3 to 4 more days of preparation before they could run tests, said Vergeire.

Some laboratories like the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa receive more requests than its other counterparts. The health department plans to "spread" these requests to remove backlogs and achieve the 8,000 to 10,000 daily test goal, she said.

The Philippines as of Monday confirmed 4,932 cases of COVID-19, with 315 deaths and 242 patients who recovered.

The lockdown on Luzon, home to half of the country's 100 million people was extended for 18 days until April 30 to arrest the pandemic's spread.

• Duterte says likely to lift Luzon lockdown if PH gets antibody treatment vs COVID-19
• Cash aid first tranche out in 2 weeks as Luzon lockdown nears 1-month mark