The city government has accelerated the rehabilitation of the quake-hit Kidapawan City Hospital (KCH) in anticipation of a surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases, amid the impending return of more locally stranded individuals and returning overseas Filipinos.

Lawyer Paolo Evangelista, city information officer, said here Tuesday the facility would serve as a temporary treatment and monitoring facility (TTMF) to isolate Covid-19-positive patients with mild symptoms.

The facility was partially damaged by the series of strong tremors that hit the city and the rest of the province in October last year.

Evangelista said hospital rehabilitation works are expected to be completed next week.

“At present, we have one TTMF, which is a private-owned hotel here but the completion of KCH works will provide more rooms for patients,” he said in an interview.

The facility has a complete hospital setup that can cater to five suspected or probable cases and 17 confirmed cases that are asymptomatic.

“All the rooms could also be converted to Covid-19 confirmed wards that can accommodate 36 patients if a surge happens,” Evangelista said, adding that the city government would shoulder the patients’ treatment and is planning to accredit the facility with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

The city government has earlier announced the hiring of additional health personnel to augment the facility’s workforce of six doctors, 20 nurses, eight medical technicians, four radiology technicians, two pharmacists, and 12 utility workers. (PNA)