Top Story News

In Third Lockdown, England Seeing ‘No Evidence of Decline’ in COVID-19 Cases

A third pandemic lockdown appears to be having little impact on rates of COVID-19 in England, researchers warned on Thursday, with prevalence of the disease “very high” and “no evidence of decline” in the first 10 days of renewed restrictions. …

Prioritizing High-Risk Individuals for Vaccines May Not Be Necessary, Research Says

A new study suggests that prioritizing vaccination of high-risk individuals has only a marginal effect on the number of COVID-19 deaths. To obtain significant improvements, it would be better if a very large fraction of a city or town population …

Future of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Looks Increasingly Uncertain

The future of Nord Stream 2 looks increasingly uncertain as the U.S. ramped up pressure on the project with new sanctions, and companies walked away from the controversial Russian gas link. The new sanctions come just days before work on …

Business Startups Surged Amid Covid-19 Pandemic

The surge of U.S. business formations in the back half of 2020 has been one of the pandemic’s many surprises. After cratering by 30% in the weeks following the March lockdowns, paperwork filed by prospective businesses started growing in June …

Zurich Insurance to Stop Insuring Russia’s Nord Stream 2 Project: Sources

Zurich Insurance Group will drop out of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 project in the face of looming U.S. sanctions against European companies that support construction of the $11 billion gas pipeline, two sources familiar with the situation said. The U.S. …

Delivery Company Offers Gig Workers $25 to Get COVID Vaccine

Grocery delivery company Instacart said on Thursday it would pay $25 to its over half-a-million gig workers if they chose to take time off to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The company, which has been lobbying government agencies for its delivery …

How COVID Effect on Workers’ Compensation Claims Has Varied by State, Industry

The percentage of COVID-19 claims among all workers’ compensation paid claims has varied greatly among states and occupations, as has the decrease in non-COVID claims, new research shows. The percentage of COVID-19 claims among all workers’ compensation paid claims ranged …

Study: Masks, Distancing, Testing Shown As Effective As Vaccines on College Campuses

The combined effectiveness of three COVID-prevention strategies on college campuses—mask-wearing, social distancing, and routine testing—are as effective in preventing coronavirus infections as the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to a new …

Marine Insurers Set to Raise Rates After Red Sea Attacks on Merchant Ships

LONDON – Insurers are set to raise the cost of providing cover for merchant ships through the Red Sea after a series of incidents that have hit vessels around Saudi Arabian waters, industry sources said. The possibility of more attacks …

Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution Risks and Insurance: Q&A With Allianz Specialists

As COVID-19 vaccine distribution rolls out across the country, insurers of the pharmaceutical industry are in a position to share their experience as to what constitutes a successful and safe distribution process. Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) is one …