Coronavirus News

Embedded As a Risk, New COVID Cycle Could Challenge Economic Recovery

Five weeks after dropping its reference to the coronavirus as a weight on the economy, the U.S. Federal Reserve is confronting a challenging new rise in cases that has fueled doubts about the global recovery and is already forcing other …

UK’s Q2 Auto Insurance Premiums Drop to Lowest Level Since Early 2016: Survey

The cost of a comprehensive car insurance policy in Britain fell 12% in the second quarter to its lowest level since early 2016 due to COVID-19 lockdowns, although it might rebound to pre-pandemic levels as restrictions ease, a survey showed …

Global P/C Industry Sees Strongest Rate Hikes in 20 Years but Inflation Headwinds Loom

Robust global economic recovery, higher risk awareness and the strongest rate hardening for 20 years in non-life insurance commercial lines will combine to push premiums 10% above pre-COVID-19-crisis levels this year, creating a faster bounceback than from the global financial …

P/C Insurers Plan to Boost Their Use of Automation: Willis Towers Watson

Property/casualty insurers plan to accelerate their use of automation for actuarial work, a new Willis Towers Watson survey found. What’s more, COVID-19 has been a major factor in the trend. The sector’s overall aspirational score (toward wanting more automation) was …

Amazon Asks Judge to Toss New York State Lawsuit Over Warehouse COVID-19 Safety

Amazon.com Inc. on Wednesday pressed a New York judge to dismiss a lawsuit by state Attorney General Letitia James claiming the online retailer failed to ensure worker safety at two New York City warehouses as COVID-19 infections surged. James sued …

Pandemic Part of a Perfect Storm for Insurers, Homeowners Bracing for Bad Wildfire Season

A perfect storm appears to brewing for homeowners and property insurers in the drought-plagued, wildfire-riddled U.S. West – and as odd as it may sound, the trouble may have begun with the pandemic. Property insurance rates and availability for homeowners …

Rising COVID Outbreaks on Ships Endanger Maritime Workers, Risk Trade Disruptions

Global vaccinations of seafarers are going too slowly to prevent outbreaks on ships from causing more trade disruptions, endangering maritime workers and potentially slowing economies trying to pull out of pandemic slowdowns. Infections on vessels could further harm already strained …

Employers, Employees Navigate Back to Office, Work from Home Plans

Last year, companies around the U.S. scrambled to figure out how to shut down their offices and set up their employees for remote work as the COVID-19 virus suddenly bore down on the world. Now, in a mirror image, they …

Washington Commissioner Wants Auto Claims, Rebate Data from Insurers

Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued a data call of 124 auto insurance companies for recent rebates given to policyholders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kreidler is requesting claims data for private passenger auto claims from 2016 to 2020 and how …

As UK Eases COVID Rules, Businesses Concerned About Legal Liability

Businesses have been been clamoring for the government to finally reopen the UK economy. Now that face masks and social distancing will be all but dropped, they have a new set of worries. Industry groups, big and small, largely welcomed …