Latest COVID-19 Headlines
All the headlines from our COVID-19 Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Coronavirus Will Cause ‘Massive’ Losses Across Insurance Industry, Says Allianz CEO
Apr 17 2020 // Allianz SE Chief Executive Officer Oliver Baete warned the coronavirus has upended insurers’ business models and will cause “massive” losses across the industry. The virus has forced closures across the...
FBI Says Foreign Government Hackers Target Coronavirus Treatment Research
Apr 17 2020 // A senior FBI cybersecurity official said on Thursday that foreign government hackers have broken into institutions conducting research into treatments for COVID-19, the sometimes fatal respiratory illness caused by the new...
Arkansas Insurance Dept. to Consumers: Contact Agents About COVID-19 Premium Relief
Apr 16 2020 // The Arkansas Insurance Department is advising auto insurance consumers to contact their insurance agents as to whether their auto insurance carrier is offering premium relief in light of the COVID-19 health crisis. AID has...
Damage to Iowa Ag Industry from Virus Will Be Huge, Economists Say
Apr 16 2020 // A group of agriculture economists said on April 15 the coronavirus pandemic will cause billions of dollars in damage to Iowa’s crop and livestock industries. In a report released from Iowa State University’s...
Fears of ‘Wild West’ as Unregulated COVID-19 Tests Hit the Market
Apr 16 2020 // Blood tests for the coronavirus could play a key role in deciding whether millions of Americans can safely return to work and school. But public health officials warn that the current “Wild West” of unregulated...
Progressive Gives $2M to Big ‘I’ Fund to Aid Agencies Affected by Coronavirus Crisis
Apr 16 2020 // Progressive Insurance has donated $2 million to establish the Trusted Choice COVID-19 Relief Fund in response to the economic and operational challenges the coronavirus crisis has presented to independent agencies. The...
Analysts See Auto Insurers’ Coronavirus Rebates As a Solid Short-Term Move
Apr 16 2020 // Auto insurers have seen something new with the coronavirus pandemic: an historic reduction in driving due to millions of customers staying home and sheltering in place. That change led to carriers issuing between $8...
AIR Worldwide Launches Free COVID-19 Catastrophe Modeling Tool
Apr 16 2020 // AIR Worldwide has launched a free COVID-19 catastrophe modeling tool, one that predicts cases and offers death projections for the weeks ahead. The company said its Verisk COVID-19 Projection Tool, designed with...
Arch Capital’s Estimated COVID-19 Losses During 1st Quarter Could Hit $145 Million
Apr 16 2020 // Arch Capital Group Ltd. said its estimated pre-tax losses for claims incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic could reach $145 million. Breaking down the total, Arch said COVID-19 claims across its property casualty insurance...
UK Insurers, Banks Are Weathering Effects on Capital of COVID-19 Crisis: BoE’s Woods
Apr 16 2020 // Britain’s banks have enough funds to keep lending to the economy even under the deep recession scenario outlined by a government watchdog, Bank of England Deputy Governor Sam Woods said on Wednesday. The BoE has...
Pandemic Bonds Get Stay of Execution but Prospect of Wipeout Looms
Apr 16 2020 // A ruling last week not to wipe out holders of a World Bank financial instrument providing emergency funds to poor countries in a pandemic, was just a stay of execution if bond markets are to be believed. The riskier $95...
Brightway Insurance to Offer Deferred Cost Option to New Franchisees During Pandemic
Apr 16 2020 // Brightway Insurance has made changes to its franchise contract in a move that is designed to make it easier to attain franchise ownership during the current coronavirus pandemic. According to Brightway President and CEO...
Despite Insurance Industry Concerns, More States Introduce COVID-19 BI Bills
Apr 15 2020 // New Jersey was the first state to propose a bill that would mandate insurers cover COVID-19-related losses under their business interruption policies, and the insurance industry was quick to express its concern. But that...
MAPFRE Launches Staying Home Refund for Policyholders During Pandemic
Apr 15 2020 // MAPFRE Insurance has announced its Staying Home Refund program, which will return 15 percent of April and May premium to its voluntary personal auto policyholders in Massachusetts, totaling more than $30 million. On...
Massachusetts’ Safety Insurance to Reduce Auto Premiums During COVID-19 Pandemic
Apr 15 2020 // Safety Insurance has announced a premium reduction plan and several other steps to meet policyholder and community needs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Safety Personal Auto Relief Credit offers eligible Safety...
Many Insurance Policies Bought by Small UK Firms Don’t Cover Pandemic: Regulator
Apr 15 2020 // Most insurance policies bought by smaller UK companies do not cover disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but those that do should make interim pay-outs quickly, a watchdog said on Wednesday, as insurers come...
OSHA Inspectors to Prioritize Health Facilities Over Other Sites During Coronavirus Crisis
Apr 15 2020 // The U.S. agency that enforces workplace safety laws has said it will prioritize work site inspections of healthcare facilities over other “essential” businesses that remain open during the coronavirus...
QBE Insurance Plans US$825M Capital Raise on COVID-19 Economic Uncertainties
Apr 15 2020 // QBE Insurance is planning to raise about US$825 million in capital as a result of the economic and investment market uncertainty created by the coronavirus crisis. The company will raise approximately $750 million of...
Europe Needs Its Own Approach to Coronavirus Tracing, Say German Tech Startups
Apr 15 2020 // Europe should not cede its sovereignty to Silicon Valley when it comes to using technology to help trace those at risk of coronavirus infection, the German developers of a smartphone app said on Tuesday. Apple and Google...
Iowa Beef Plant Suspends Operations Due to Worker Virus Infections
Apr 15 2020 // A beef processing plant in one of Iowa’s coronavirus hot spots has suspended production after several workers have become infected. National Beef announced that its Iowa Premium plant in Tama will be idled until...
