EIGHT persons positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) who showed no signs of the disease were the first residents of the 350-bed New Normal Oasis for Adaptation and a Home (Noah) Complex at the South Road Properties in Cebu City.

The asymptomatic patients were brought to the facility on Wednesday night, July 1, 2020, said former city councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, manager of the Noah Complex.

Of the eight asymptomatic patients, seven came from Barangay Cogon Pardo and one from Barangay Basak Pardo.

On Wednesday, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, the overseer of the Cebu Covid-19 Task Force, had said new Covid-19 patients would be brought to the Noah complex and no longer to the barangay isolation centers (BICs).

Cimatu said he preferred isolation centers to be located far from communities.

Cimatu, a retired general, had expressed his concern that the BICs might be a source of infection in the barangays, which will eventually cause the spread of the virus. The BICs are mostly schools located in the middle of barangays.

The Noah Complex was inaugurated last June 6.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama had pushed for the construction of the Noah Complex, which he had wanted to take care of asymptomatic patients from Cebu City’s south district.

Rama had wanted the facility to unload the Cebu City Quarantine Center in the North Reclamation Area from the burden of taking care of asymptomatic patients.

Pesquera said 400 tents from the Aboitiz Group will arrive at the Noah Complex on Monday, July 6.

Dr. Peter Mancao is the Noah Complex’s medical director; Dr. Ester Concha, welfare officer; and Cebu City Health Department Chief Dr. Daisy Villa, operation team head. (PAC, KAL)