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‘VI will get more cases & deaths from COVID-19’ - Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool predicts

- but said territory has to figure out a way to generate income & co-exist with virus
Medical Doctor and proprietor of Bougainvillea Clinic, Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool has predicted a gloomy future for the territory, which he says is filled with more COVID-19 cases and deaths, however, says Territory must still figure out ways to generate income. Photo: Facebook/File
Premier Andrew A. Fahie has warned that the territory has just 8 ventilators, therefore any re-opening measure of the territory will be stringent to prevent outbreaks and protect the VI community from the virus. Photo: HoA/File
Premier Andrew A. Fahie has warned that the territory has just 8 ventilators, therefore any re-opening measure of the territory will be stringent to prevent outbreaks and protect the VI community from the virus. Photo: HoA/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI – Medical Doctor and proprietor of Bougainvillea Clinic, Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool has predicted a Virgin Islands filled with more COVID-19 cases and deaths; however, he said the territory must still figure out ways to generate income.

“We have to have a way to bring money into our economy, all tourism will die if we don't allow tourist to come back… the tourist businesses will die if we don't allow tourists to come back to the community.”

Territory must re-open to allow commerce – Dr Vanterpool  

Dr Vanterpool was at the time speaking on the Wednesday, October 28, 2020, special edition of the Honestly Speaking show where he also noted that some industries, including taxi services and medical services, will suffer should tourism not be revived.

“Even though I'm dealing mostly with the local people, eventually the local people will have no more money, eventually NHI can’t continue to support itself,” Dr Vanterpool remarked.

While there are now several conversations regarding what amount of COVID-19 risks the territory should allow with the re-opening of its economy, Dr Vanterpool said re-opening is something that must happen.

“We do have to allow commerce, we do have to allow people to come back in the territory and the truth is, the moment you do that, you're going to find cases of COVID coming back into this community,” he said.

Open but keep infections to a minimum – Dr Vanterpool

“So, we have to do it in a way to try and keep it to a minimum or to keep it to a limit that we can tolerate and that we can handle,” Dr Vanterpool said.

While he admitted that the territory has not been hit hard thus far from the pandemic, he said the future is one with more where the territory will eventually get more COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has warned that the territory has just 8 ventilators, therefore any re-opening measure of the territory will have to be stringent to prevent outbreaks and protect the VI community from the virus.

36 Responses to “‘VI will get more cases & deaths from COVID-19’ - Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool predicts ”

  • FEO GOMEZ (30/10/2020, 11:55) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    And eventually I CAN'T GET MY NHI CHECK we talking MILLIONS...said Hesketh. FOH B
  • Mortality (30/10/2020, 12:26) Like (14) Dislike (4) Reply
    Couple of thoughts: one is that COVID is much better managed now than 6 months ago. Mortality has decreased, though because we don’t truly know the true number of cases, it is hard to derive an accurate number. In the US, there presently are 8 million cases, and 220,000 deaths, so COVID probably has a mortality rate of 2.75%. Many researches believe that known cases represent about 10% of all cases, which would make the mortality rate around 0.3% (rounding off). On that basis, if everyone in the BVis were to be infected (population 30,000), one might expect around 80 fatalities. In the US, about 80% of those fatalities are in the 65+ crowd. So, part of the strategy would be how to protect those folks, who might have limited exposure to tourists anyway (assuming many of that age are retired). If they are protected, then you might expect around 16 fatalities. St. Thomas with a population at least twice the size has experienced 21 fatalities overall (all either older or with co-morbidities). These projected fatalities could very likely be prevented by existing measures, and a more carefully thought out visitors policy. Is it worth shutting down the Territory to prevent an estimated 80 additional deaths? In the end, a question of risk management unless the BVis remains shut down for the foreseeable future, which presents a different kind of risk and demise.
    • No oner will die (30/10/2020, 13:33) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
      OMG. Stop it...What kind of negativity is that... Your business depends on Draining NHI, People need to work to pay your high co-Pay...All the people are asking for is an opportunity to work and take care themselves and their families....They will do what it takes to keep they and their families safe....
      • Mortality (30/10/2020, 14:47) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
        At no one wiill die: You misses my point. Projected mortality is not actual mortality. It’s just a measure of potential risk. We can take many steps to reduce the projected mortality, so that there can be opportunities to work. But if we don’t take some kind of steps to understand and quantify the risk, given that no one wants to die, then we end up running around like chickens with our heads cut off, trying to come up with something that represents zero virus risk, but possibly very high economic risk.
    • Common Sense (30/10/2020, 14:29) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      All very pertinent statements, ultimately people themselves have to take responsibility for their own safety. One thing looks very apparent, there is more to successful government than just keeping people safe, any answer to Covid 19 that includes bankruptcy of the economy is no answer at all.
      We clearly have to live with the virus, and as we know who the old and vulnerable are, we need to protect them and get on with life.
  • Mrs Tubman (30/10/2020, 12:33) Like (35) Dislike (8) Reply
    Tourism or my life????
    Tourism can be revived.
    Death is permanent. My children needs me .
    BVI has lived and will live without tourism and its accompanying negatives which now includes death.
    Tourism products in the VI will be even better after a reprieve. Oceans ,beaches and other natural resources will be healthier and better.
    Tourism is a fickle product.
    A focus and intensity on agriculture and organic living is waaay better for our mind body spirit and pockets than Tourism.
    Rise above tourism and make the BVI great again.
  • maskman (30/10/2020, 12:33) Like (22) Dislike (3) Reply
    dr set the correct example. start by wearing ur mask properly
  • rattie (30/10/2020, 12:42) Like (8) Dislike (6) Reply
    He is making sence
    • @ rattie (30/10/2020, 14:59) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
      "sence" makes no sense and therefore your attempted endorsement as invalid.
  • Watching on.. (30/10/2020, 12:57) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    Premier, The plan isn't a bad plan. It just needs some tweaking. It needs less tests. I think they need one test before they come and one test before they come out of quarantine. If they have it, is either the tourist foot the bill or go back.

    Everybody making noise about the protocols but when the cases start skyrocketing and people mother, father, daughter, son etc getting sick they going say is the gov't fault. SMH
    • trust (31/10/2020, 12:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Good thinking
      One test before you arrive four day quarantine one test after quarantine that is acceptable
  • Ridiculous (30/10/2020, 12:59) Like (8) Dislike (16) Reply
    COVID is the new flue. Everyone will eventually get it- it is evolving and not going anywhere. Global infection compared to death rate is actually very low. A vaccine will be nice when it get here. Getting sick / getting antibodies is great too.

    Majority of people in the BVI are in a group that has a very very high recovery rate.

    Perhaps instead of starving the people and collapsing the economy - we could make the entry requirements easier to cope with to tourists can realistically visit.

    Persons who are high risk for serious COVID side effects - issue recommendations for them to stay home. Allow "Safe" zones and / or times for them to go out.

    Get over it!
    • Pony (30/10/2020, 21:25) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Young people are diabectic and hypertensive too
    • concern (31/10/2020, 02:15) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      stop speaking this virus over our lives, even tho we know it is possible according to how things are going, speak life The power of life and death is in our tongue.The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature.BVI let us pray together, rally together, love one another, we can do this together, PEACE
  • Your Business man (30/10/2020, 13:10) Like (5) Dislike (6) Reply
    .Life isn't without risk, You invest its a risk, you cannot progress without risk, as long as you are living you are at risk to dying.. Covid isn't going any where, We can put a simple, safe and effective plan together, that will keep the Virus out...How is St Vincent plan working? They are now progressing with speed in the yachting business, because we refuse to compete..we are losing our bread and butter
    • SHAME (30/10/2020, 14:38) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
      you and a lot of other not care about the vulnerable, you only care about the money lost, because money lost is more valuable than life lost. you are not only putting bvi resident at risk but the tourist also, the can get sick in bvi and burden our weak medical system. bvi is not ready nor equip to handle a surge minimal of critical covid patient.
    • @ Your business man (30/10/2020, 14:55) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Suicide and suicidal attrmts however, are classfied mental illnesses.
  • taxpayer (30/10/2020, 13:15) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bring in economy and he gets it , he keep quiet after!
  • Medical (30/10/2020, 14:12) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    YES WE KNOW THAT MORW CASES MIGHT HAPPEN BU AS A DOCTOR THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST REMARK THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE MADE. dONOT SCARE PEOPLE YOU SHOULD USE ALL YOUR MRDICAL KNOWLEDGE TO EDUCATE THE REDIFRMTS OF THE BVI TOBE ON THEIR BEST BEHAVIOOUR DURING SUCH TIME, weAR YOUR MASKS KEEP LESS COMPANY AND WASH NOT ONLY YOUR HANDS BUT YOUR ENTIRE BODY, DR VANTERPOOL YOU CANNOT STOP THE VIRUS BUT PLEASE DO NOT GIVE PEOPLE NO MORE HEADACHES CHILDREN ARE INVOLVED TRY TO SEEK ALL THE MEDICAL MEDICINES WHICH WILL HELP AND HELP AND CONSULT WITH THE GOVERNMENT WHO IS DOING A VERY GOOD JOB OF KEEPING IT TO A MIMINUM IN THE COUNTRY. WHAT HAPPEN TO YOU YOU WANT TO SEE THE COUNTRY GO UNDER, MAN THAT IS NOT A VERY GOOD STATEMENT. YES IT MIGHT HAPPEN BUT PRAY TO THE ALMIGHTY GODTYHAT HE KEEP THE BRIITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS SAFE AND CLEAN. SOME TIMES I WONDER IF SOME EDUCATED PERSONS USETHEIR HEAD IN ORDER TO MAKE POSITIVR STATEMENTS WHICH WILL HE;P PEOPLE TO GET ALONG
  • TORTOLIAN (30/10/2020, 14:28) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
    YOU GO INTO DR VANTERPOOLS OFFICE TO SEE A DOCTOR FOR TEN MINUTES YOUR BILL I PAY EIGHTEEN DOLLARS AND THE GOVERNMENT PAYS TWO FIFTY EIGHT
  • Rose Hip (30/10/2020, 14:44) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    In support of opening our ports at this juncture, to tourists and tourism,Dr Heskith Can't r rpool has ,according to the headlines openly predicted that "VI will get more cases and deaths from Covid-19 "
    Mr Vantetpool is a trained and practicing physician, proprietor of a medical clinic and may or may not be but likely has invested interests in pharmaceutical distributions within the VI. His monetary interest will therefore be extended to the monetary gains from our illnesses with no interest in our resulting deaths but I don't know if his portfolio includes funeral homes. It is my belief that he is a Christian and religiously attends church as is customary of most generational "born here " BVIslanders.
    Pardon me if you please. Sorry to be brief,but....
    I have the urgency to regurgitate my lunch.
  • A comment (30/10/2020, 15:19) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    As the outrage by the mostly BVislander Communitycontinues against our ElectedGov , in the usual and expected colonizer effort to dictate how things must be run by them, we should be aware that Europe and America are experiencing a surge in Covid 19 and affected deaths. So much so that France and Germany has initiated and implemented lockdowns. Considering that the bulk of our tourust hails from those areas, we might want to pay attention.
    • *@ A Comment (30/10/2020, 18:45) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      I believe you meant to have written...."outrage by the mostly, non bvislander community... " Ander community....
  • usvi (30/10/2020, 15:21) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just 6 miles away from us the USVI has been fully open since June 1 and simply requiring one test within 5 days prior to entry. Some will say but look at all the cases they had? Yes at the peak of their spike in late july they had 293 active cases, however, AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: there have never been more than 2-3 people in the hospital requiring care. USVI hospitals and their health care system has been more than able to handle the cases they have had. Currently I believe there are 22 active cases in usvi and since July they have welcomed over 25,000 tourists. The economy is functioning, the healthcare system is functioning and people are actively following the protocols. WHY CANT THE BVI DO SOMETHING SIMILAR??? Oh and has anyone seen the Cuban doctors? Bet their suntans are getting nice!
    • @USVI (30/10/2020, 18:37) Like (21) Dislike (1) Reply
      The economy in the USVI have the ability to function with or without tourisrs and COVID deaths.
      They have FEMA,Medicaid, Medicare, SSI,SSD,Food Stamps,Stimulus packages,etc provided ,entitled and guaranteed by the USA which also prints its own currency.
      The VI has nothing except for 6 ventilators,maybe.
      No guaranteed assistance from anywhere.
  • COVID -19 - 100% not forgotten (30/10/2020, 15:51) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    YES, yes, keep doing your math trying to figure me out. Your math is all wrong about me and I have yet to show you my true self. I so welcome the chance to get to know you all. Even if you are generous enough to let me in, I don’t really want to mislead you on what My intentions are, so let me round off your math. One of you said about 80 deaths per the 30,000 population hahaha not even on a good day baby. Not with your track record our history. You only confirmed me 71 times or so and I already took 1 of you that you know of....so imagine this....what if I took 1 of you for every 100? I guess I can have about 300 of you on my first time around. Hmmm, but there’s so much more to me than you really know. I’m likely to hit most of you TWICE...once you let me in :) so if I don’t get my 300 the first time around, I’m guaranteeing it on the comeback baby. And that’s just me showing you what the assumed math says of me from one of you. Now for the reality, with your medical track history of beating me when I first visited, and your limited medical support hahaha I’m sure I can double those numbers on any day. “So keep thinking I’m candy” ;) I’ll be back soon enough...haven’t forgot you fine folks. See you soon!!....
    • Ghost (30/10/2020, 23:09) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      You sound like the devil himself and I REBUKE YOU IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS.. I DECLARE IN JESUS’S MIGHTY NAME THAT WE SHALL LIVE AND NOT DIE .. SO GO BACK TO HELL WITH YOUR COMMENT.. I BIND YOU IN HEAVEN AND I BIND YOU IN THE EARTH!
  • hmmmmmm (30/10/2020, 15:52) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply

    Your pocket getting hurt now, so you talking. Time longer than twine - eventually what hurting the lil man will eventually hurt the big man!

    From the article: "Dr Vanterpool was at the time speaking on the Thursday, October 29, 2020, special edition of the Honestly Speaking show where he also noted that some industries, including taxi services and medical services, will suffer should tourism not be revived.

    “Even though I'm dealing mostly with the local people, eventually the local people will have no more money, eventually NHI can’t continue to support itself,” Dr Vanterpool remarked."
  • Nice (30/10/2020, 15:54) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply

    Keep the place closed man, keep it closed! We will see/hear the same %^&* here crying in 3 months.

  • open (30/10/2020, 16:00) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Let the tourist wear mask jus like what we’re doing .
  • Like (30/10/2020, 17:17) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    watching on I like your comments the plan not bad just need a good test on arrival and after 4days the next test waiting for results in24hous if it is good then go
  • GG (30/10/2020, 18:49) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply

    Why you all dont live and let live and stop with all this prediction bull****.

  • Not true (30/10/2020, 20:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yea because the more people get sick they will go to urika are the purple palace , which simple mean more money for you ,The devil is a liar ,back to the sender ,The Blood Jesus Christ come againts that perdiction i denouce it i concel every utterance came from your mouth over this country .you need to repent
  • Covid survivor (30/10/2020, 22:20) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply

    We will continue to get more deaths and cases because of these f*****g bars and people not wearing their masks and involve in social gatherings. Watch. By December If not earlier next year we going to get another spike.

  • Tompo (30/10/2020, 22:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How Does Heskith know this?
  • DR MAMMON (31/10/2020, 11:45) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    HE MAY BE A GREAT DOCTOR BUT THE MAN WORSHIPS MOOLAH- SO BE CAREFUL WITH WHAT FALLS OUT HIS F-----N TRAP


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