More seniors dying since COVID-19
Amid growing calls for the government and the wider community to do more to improve the welfare of seniors, new information from the Central Statistics Office shows that the death rate among the elderly has been steadily climbing since 2020 — the year the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The data reveal that in 2019, the territory recorded 68 deaths among persons 65 and older. That figure rose to 83 in 2020.
The number rose sharply to 95 in 2021 and spiked to 115 in 2022 before settling at 97 in 2023. Total deaths within the elderly population were 103 in 2024.
By comparison, the years before 2017 — the year of the devastating hurricanes Irma and Maria — recorded consistently lower totals. In 2015, there were 76 senior deaths, followed by 73 in 2016.
Breaking the figures down by age groups, the data shows that seniors 85 years and older remain the most vulnerable. This category recorded as high as 34 deaths in 2015 and continued to average more than 25 annually in the years since.
In 2021 and 2022, the number rose to 32 and 33, respectively, before tapering off to 21 in 2024.
Another concerning trend is in the 80–84 age group, which saw relatively low figures before the pandemic — averaging fewer than 10 deaths annually between 2015 and 2019. However, by 2022, that number more than doubled to 21 and has remained above 20 since then.
A similar increase was seen for persons between 70 and 74 – with just nine deaths in 2019 but a drastic 20 deaths in 2024.
The statistics underscore mounting concerns about the state of healthcare, social support, and overall quality of life for the Virgin Islands’ ageing community amid fallouts from the global pandemic.
In recent times, several legislators have raised alarms about the need for stronger protections and services for seniors. Some have argued that many elderly residents are struggling with the cost of healthcare, housing, and even basic necessities. Calls have also been made for improved facilities, such as expanded care homes and more resources for home-based support.
In response, the government has taken steps, including increased budget allocations for senior programmes, ongoing upgrades at the Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly, and community outreach through the Social Development Department.
Initiatives such as seniors’ appreciation events and wellness programmes have also been introduced, though many lawmakers and advocacy groups continue to argue that these efforts fall short of what is needed for the territory’s elderly.
Copyright 2026 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
MORE BLOOD ON YOUR CONSCIENCE ( WITH YOUR FANCY WORDS THE BENIFITS IS WORT THE RISK OF DEATH , OR DYING BEFORE YOUR TIME , YOU WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT GUILT, LETS HEAR YOU BRAG NOW FOR ASSISTING YHEM ON THEIR JOURNEY ( THEY GOT FRIGGED BY SOMEBODY WHOM THEY TRUSTED WITH THEIR HEALTH AND LEARNED THE HARD WAY – SADLY FOR THE CONFIDENCE THEY HAD IN YOU .
Death rates do go up as we get older. The missing pieces here are causes of death, mortality rates (rather than numbers) and how these rates/causes compare with other Caribbean Islands. That said it is indeed appropriate to adequately support the elder population.
What “gubberly gook” nonsense is this you writing. The question is what has changed in the life of our “Elderly” since the Pandemic? Are they for example living more sedimentary lives and more stationary? Are they more isolated? have they been forced indoors and left without care and active engagement with their loved ones? What about their nutrition and access to healthcare since the Pandemic. These are valid Questions that should be answered for our society. Of-course eventually we will all die, however the increase change rate of death among any age group speaks will likely be due to something abnormal in the life of a community.
Exactly…the article reports cases not rates so it’s not possible to determine from it where there is a change in rates of age adjusted mortality rates.
But could the vaccine have to do with it?
The normal age for people to live is 70, according to the Bible. If we live beyond that age, consider ourselves blessed. People are not designed to live forever. All of us will die some day, but we don’t know the day or the hour. Just stayed prayed up
NONSENSE
It’s a shame we have more local Doctors and most of them, especially those in Private healthcare, just care about money.
They work at the Hospital for a short time and leave to make money. When they get these scholarships to study, they need to be held accountable or pay them back.
As for the NHI system, I don’t see any track being made by the Government to fix it and make it serve the people more, rather than making the Doctors rich.
Tell the truth and shame the devil.Since the Covid-19 vaccine roll out the death rate all over the world has increase significantly.All the data is there to proved it.How many of the deaths within the last couple of years took the covid-19 vaccine and how many have unexplaned health issues. We all know by now so dont pretend, that vacination is one of the stratagies to depopulate the world and yes it was said in plain site.Follow the world economic forum agenda 2030 and you will learn.Let no man deceive you.
And now CCT bringing in 5g we all frigged
I have Shared My Testimony to as many People as I can and still do. Last Year, 2023 I ended up in the Hospital with Low Blood Sugar (Diabetes). I was there for 8 days. I wish to say while I was at the D. Orlando Smith Hospital, I received Excellent Care from Everyone. I am just an ordinary Citizen. Because of my Visit there, Today I have lasting Friends who still check up on me with Phone Calls ever so often to ensure that I am doing Okay. I appreciate that so Much. What I took away from all that is that We should Not wait until We become Seniors to care for our Health and with my experience I am now speaking with a lot of People encouraging them to take better Care of themselves to have a Healthy Lifestyle. Because of Technology I am able to do a lot of Research on everything that I use. I encourage My Children to take better Care of My Grands and Great Grands. But I would like say here, while I know we have in BVI Various Health Organizations doing Great Work on Education Some interested Persons, More can be done to reach a wider Section of each Community. Health Education is probably Taught in Schools, But a worth-while addition could be in the Parent/Teachers Meetings. Some of the Snacks and Processed Foods that Some Children take to Schools are Not Healthy. Some of the Medications We use have many Side Effects. Just Use Technology and do your own Research, you will Find out. If We are able to avoid Processed Foods and use more Locally Grown, Herbal Stuff, while We will All die at some Point, We can Live some years longer. Even during the Hurricane Season We Hear: Stock up on this and that. Most of the Foods We Stock up on are Processed Foods and they are Not Healthy for Us. While I am Not A Doctor, Nurse or Care-Giver, My Situation has Taught Me a Lot and Today, I am Very Careful with My Diet and other Health Needs and I am Willing to share with anyone I become in contact With. I do a Lot of Research. One last Statement. While Reseach is Great, Be very Careful the Sites you use as Today you will read that Some Food or Fruit or Drink is Good for you and Tomorrow that same Food or Drink or Fruit is Not Good for You… Peace and Love!!!! I Give God Thanks All through the Day for His Goodness Towards Me. My Life is Not Perfect But Once My Doctors’ Reports are Great, My Heart is Comforted in knowing that I am Good to Go!!! STRESS is a Killer!!! You can’t Kill it, It Kills You!!
From personal experience, the vaccine had some thing tö do with thôse deaths. As I barely survived.
Though being a healthy senior at the time, i was immediately stricken with nerve damage over the entire body, complete depletion of physical strength and four consecutive months flat on the back unable to move a finger or toe in a hospital bed.
The most humuliating experience was having to be rolled on the side to crap in a basin held by nurses.
The question which should be available to the public then, is, what caused the high number of deaths.
Was or is there a direct corelatiön between the vaccine and erormous deaths?
Despite the privacy act, thoose kinds of figures and direct causes shuld be made public if related too the poison.
As,it is a known fact that the creator and peddler of the vaccine persoonal philosophy was and still is the reduction of the world’s Black population.
That more so especially in Africa, where he has just introduced to gvernments there an eight year sterilization device to keep the Black woman from prcreating.
He appears obssessed with the reproductioon of the Black woman.
The white English man and wōman especially and thers are agonizingly disruptive on this site daily with their damaging and hidden racist comments.
They will be all over these truths and personal
painful experiences with thumbs down and hidiōus
commenting.
Yet in total, the Gates Foundatiôn vaccine have killed ad mamed milliones like myself around the world while becoming richer.
One can only wonder what god they serve if any.
We who survived should be compensated for pain and
immense suffering that is showing no signs of repair
and healing.
The vaccine pemanently altered personal health, physical, psychoolgical and personal ody mechanisms
and my existence completely.
In the name of medicine,that is a shame and a crime against humanity.
People are stressed the f**k out that is why they are dying off!
**“Yes, many seniors were lost to COVID, but your statistics don’t justify using that as the only reason. The data clearly shows a steady increase over the last two years.
Retirement age is 65, yet far too many seniors are forced out much earlier—whether due to medical issues, stress and victimization on the job, or financial hardship. Most don’t even make it to 65 to claim their full social security benefits, and the small pensions they do receive run out long before they can survive on them.
The truth is, many of these seniors are former civil servants who retired, ran out of money, and had to beg for another government job just to keep up with bills. Too often, they’re neglected by politicians, told to go beg social services, and then mistreated or ignored by the very departments and boards that decide who gets help. Even worse, politicians themselves play a role in who gets assistance. Seniors are humiliated, forced to expose sensitive bank details, and then denied if they have as little as $500 to their name.
Meanwhile, politicians never face these struggles. They serve just two terms, collect a base salary before allowance of over $150,000, don’t even need qualifications for the job, and walk away with a pension that guarantees them comfort for life. That’s why their chances of dying prematurely are low—because unlike our seniors, they’ll never have to choose between paying bills and buying food.”**
If those chapters were taken froom their bible they would still ignore thse scriptures, from the 1st-9th Distr… A greedy, self enriching and heartless bunch they.
We are living in a culture of death where food and medicine has been weaponized against the masses for the benefit of the wealthy. Do you have any idea of the mind boggling profits that the pharmaceutical industry made off the Covid Vaccine. Do you have any idea of the toll that GMO foods are having on the human population. This is all by design to make more for who’s got plenty and guess what your denial is music to their ears.
1. Our eating habits
2. The notion that fat is robust and healthy is a cultural thing
3. People are afraid to walk .. you are look down on like you are financially poverty stricken
4. We drink too much sugary stuff and greasy food
5.we eat too much processed food
6. We need to plant more crops
7. The mind —-
A) Our thoughts of a pure mind and heart towards others
B) Evil thinking, badmindness, hate, jealousy, , discrimination and disrespect give rise to chronic illness
It is a combination of all those things not covid alone