Coronavirus News

Fitch’s Reinsurance Outlook Remains Negative, Despite Entry into Hard Market Phase

Fitch Ratings said yesterday its ratings outlook for companies in the global reinsurance sector will continue to remain negative as a result of hefty coronavirus claims and low interest rates. The good news for companies, however, is that the market …

Cal/OSHA Cites Food Manufacturer, Staffing Firm for Not Protecting Workers from COVID

Cal/OSHA has issued citations to frozen food manufacturer Overhill Farms Inc. and its temporary employment agency Jobsource North America Inc. with over $200,000 in proposed penalties to each employer for failing to protect hundreds of employees from COVID-19 at two …

Hospitals, Nursing Homes Fail to Separate COVID Patients, Putting Others at Risk

Nurses at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center were on edge as early as March when patients with COVID-19 began to show up in areas of the hospital that were not set aside to care for them. The Centers for Disease …

New Mexico Officials Say Teachers Are Safe from Legal Liability Amid Virus

New Mexico officials clarified this week that teachers won’t be on the hook for lawsuits that might stem from COVID-19 outbreaks as in-person classes began for some students. “In no way will teachers or school employees be held personally liable …

Governor Hogan Asks for Federal Disaster Declaration in Three Maryland Counties

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan requested a major disaster declaration from the federal government to help communities in three counties hit by Tropical Storm Isaias last month. If granted, it would provide financial help to Calvert, Dorchester and St. Mary’s counties …

Department Store Blames Insurers As It Files Bankruptcy and Shuts Down

Century 21 Stores, an iconic New York off-price department store chain, filed for bankruptcy with plans to shut down, becoming the latest victim of the retail industry carnage that’s accelerated during the pandemic. The retailer will hold going out of …

ACORD’s Innovation Tools Experiencing Soaring Reinsurance Demand

ACORD, the standard setting body for the global insurance industry, is experiencing a massive jump in global reinsurance and other industry interest in its digital products and services, CEO Bill Pieroni said. The increase comes as reinsurers and carriers, already …

Lloyd’s Reports First Half Loss of $520M on COVID-19 Insurance Claims

Lloyd’s of London recorded a pretax loss of 400 million pounds ($520.08 million) in the first half, battered by the coronavirus pandemic, the commercial insurance market said on Thursday. Insurers around the world have paid out on event cancellation, travel, …

COVID-19 Takes Toll on Canada’s Auto, Life Insurers

Canada’s property/casualty insurance industry thus far has fared better than its life counterpart amid the economic and market dynamics created by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an AM Best report. In its Best’s Market Segment Report, titled, “COVID-19 Taking Its …

Schools Find Lessons About Insurance Liability and COVID-19 Are Complicated

School officials and insurers across the country are facing questions about COVID-19-related insurance liability as they begin classes, but answers remain elusive, according to A.M. Best. “Uncertainty about the plethora of issues involved with school liability abounds,” A.M Best said …