Coronavirus News

Reinsurers Will Fail to Earn Cost of Capital in 2020, Leading to More Rate Hikes: Fitch

Global reinsurers will fail to earn its cost of capital in 2020 amid the coronavirus crisis, which will help maintain price increases for the sector during the year ahead, said Fitch Ratings. Financial performance will be hit by mortality claims …

Lawmaker Details Federal Reinsurance for Pandemic Business Interruption, Event Losses

New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney has introduced the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2020, a federal backstop for pandemic-related business interruption insurance modeled after the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act. “This is the only bill I have written that people are …

Coronavirus Cluster Found in Crew of Freight Cargo Ship in Australia

A coronavirus cluster was detected Tuesday on a freight ship berthed in the Australian west coast port of Fremantle, raising questions about why local authorities weren’t alerted to the danger. Six of 48 crew members from the Al Kuwait tested …

Massachusetts Begins Phased Reopening, Implements Safety Standards for Workplaces

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has implemented mandatory safety standards for workplaces to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmissions as the state begins its phased reopening of businesses. All businesses in Massachusetts must develop a written plan for how they will …

Florida CFO to Focus On Pandemic Business Liability Protections in 2021 Session

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis said he will pursue legislation that establishes liability protections for businesses in the next legislative session slated to start in March 2021. The Florida Department of Financial Services said in a statement that Patronis is currently …

Property Damage – Is It Because the Government Says It Is?

Property Damage: Is it “Property Damage” Just Because a Jurisdictional Order Uses the Term “Property Damage”? Some plaintiff attorneys are almost giddy over the fact that several jurisdictions used the term “property damage” in their respective emergency declarations to justify …

Times Square to Go Dark to Shine Light on Fight Over Business Interruption Insurance

The digital billboards in New York City’s famous Times Square will go dark tonight at 9 pm ET for one minute to dramatize the plight of restaurants, non-profits and retailers across the country that are suffering business losses due to …

Oregon’s New Insurance Emergency Orders Released for COVID-19

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services has issued emergency orders related to COVID-19 for insurance companies providing property/casualty, long-term care, and life and disability insurance. The orders require insurance companies providing these policies to do the following: Provide …

State Fund in California Accepting Applications for $50M Return to Work Fund

State Compensation Insurance Fund in California has started accepting applications for its $50 million Returning California to Work COVID-19 Safety Protocol Fund. The fund will help State Fund policyholders implement new safety measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 as …

North Carolina Tyson Foods Poultry Plant Reports 570 COVID-19 Cases

Meat producer Tyson Foods is reporting 570 cases of COVID-19 at a poultry processing complex in North Carolina. Tyson said in a news release that it tested more than 2,000 staff members and contractors who work at its facility in …