The provincial government of Negros Oriental’s “tent city” for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) suspect and confirmed cases has accommodated its first five occupants.

Adrian Sedillo, executive director of the province’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), in an interview Monday said the five occupants are three personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and two from the Provincial Treasurer’s Office (PTO).

They were “admitted” to the tent city Sunday evening, he said.

Two of the BJMP personnel and the two PTO employees are positive for Covid-19 while the other BJMP officer is scheduled for swab test after being exposed to his colleagues, he added.

The 30-bed surge-capacity facility was set up last month at the northern portion of the Perdices Memorial Coliseum oval here with individual tents, cots, mattresses, and electric fans.

Assistant Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Liland Estacion, said in a previous interview that positive but asymptomatic cases will be accepted for admission for free, but when the infected persons develop symptoms, they will be transferred to a hospital.

Sedillo said if the asymptomatic patients at the tent city will test negative on the seventh day from their first swab, they will be “downloaded” or transferred to their respective local government units (LGUs) to complete the mandated 14-day quarantine.

The Covid-19 tent city, which is only for asymptomatic cases, is a project funded by the We Heal As One Bayanihan Grant, he said.

It aims to prevent overflowing hospital occupancy of Covid infections, suspect or otherwise, he added.

The facility is expected to be “reusable” for other purposes in the future once the Covid-19 pandemic is over. (PNA)