Paris Hilton Spends New Year's Weekend in USVI, Highlighting Benefits of Balancing Covid-19 Restrictions With Economic Activity

  • Ernice Gilbert
  • January 04, 2021
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Paris Hilton in St. Thomas, USVI on Sunday, Jan. 3rd, 2021 By. INSTAGRAM

ST. THOMAS — Affluent tourists with yachts searching for exotic destinations to ring in 2021 packed the territory's waters over the weekend, as many destinations remain closed or have implemented onerous Covid-19 restrictions on yachts.

The U.S. Virgin Islands has been benefiting from these closures while receiving free publicity. Paris Hilton, an American media personality, businesswoman, socialite and model spent the weekend in St. Thomas and St. John with her lover, Carter Reum, an American author and businessman.

"Beautiful day in Paradise celebrating 2021 with the love of my life!" Ms. Hilton wrote on Instagram Sunday to her more than 13 million followers. 

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Paris Hilton in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands during the New Year's weekend. (Via Instagram)

Governor Albert Bryan has spoken about the benefits of balancing Covid-19 restrictions with the importance of economic activity, and he has highlighted the influx of yachts arriving to the USVI as one of the benefits.

On Sunday, Mr. Bryan shared a picture of the Cyril E. King Airport, whose apron was filled with jets. "Stt airport looking like a jet sales lot! Balancing Covid and tourism has been a challenge but our community awareness and diligence is paying off," the governor wrote on Facebook Saturday. "We are open for business and the nation is paying attention."

As of Saturday, the territory had 99 active Covid-19 cases: 49 on St. Croix, 37 on St. Thomas, and 13 on St. John. On Sunday, the V.I. Dept. of Health reported the territory's 24th Covid-19-related fatality: a 78-year-old woman from St. Croix, bringing the island's total Coronavirus deaths to 8, which is behind St. Thomas's 15, and ahead of St. John's 1. 

 

 

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