Latest COVID-19 Headlines

All the headlines from our COVID-19 Topic Page, ordered by recency.

South Carolina Governor Signs Bill Preventing COVID Suits Against Businesses

Jun 28 2021 // Gov. Henry McMaster again said South Carolina is recovering better from the COVID-19 pandemic than just about any other state as he held a ceremonial signing of a bill preventing people from suing companies over the...

Lessons from the Pandemic for Workers’ Compensation

Jun 28 2021 // The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us tough lessons. We have learned the strengths and limitations of globalization, our public health systems, and our ability to respond during a crisis.In the U.S. workers’...

Hiscox Agrees to Arbitration Settlement with UK Policyholders over COVID-19 BI Losses

Jun 28 2021 // Hiscox has agreed an arbitration settlement with a group of policyholders over business interruption losses due to the government’s COVID-19 lockdown last year, the Lloyd’s of London insurer said on...

San Francisco to Require Covid-19 Vaccinations for City Employees

Jun 25 2021 // San Francisco city workers will be required to be vaccinated against the coronavirus when a vaccine receives full federal approval.The policy covering 35,000 municipal workers may be the first by any city or county in the...

Jim Bakker, Missouri Church Settle Suit over COVID-19 Claims

Jun 25 2021 // Jim Bakker and his southwestern Missouri church will pay restitution of $156,000 to settle a lawsuit that accuses the TV pastor of falsely claiming a health supplement could cure COVID-19.Missouri court records show that a...

Workers Fired, Resign over Houston Hospital’s COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

Jun 24 2021 // More than 150 employees at a Houston hospital system who refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine have been fired or resigned after a judge dismissed an employee lawsuit over the vaccine requirement.A spokesperson for Houston...

Judge Rejects Spouse’s Wrongful Death Suit Against Airline Over Lax Covid Safety

Jun 24 2021 // Citing a concern over “opening the floodgates” to litigation, a federal judge has dismissed a flight attendant’s negligence lawsuit against her employer, Southwest Airlines, which she blamed for her...

Alaska One of Few States to Allow Cannabis Lounges, but Pandemic Paused Plans

Jun 23 2021 // Regulators amid much fanfare in early 2020 approved two cannabis lounges in Alaska, making it one of the few states where customers would be allowed to use marijuana at retail pot shops.Then the pandemic hit. One of the...

Connecticut Casinos Sue Insurer Over COVID-19 Losses

Jun 21 2021 // The Native American tribe that owns Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun casino is suing its insurance carrier over what it says was the denial of claims for millions of dollars in losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.The Day...

CEO Views: Successes and Failures in Dealing with Pandemic Challenges

Jun 21 2021 // As insurance professionals prepare for mask-free life and opportunities to exchange ideas in person, industry leaders took the virtual stage again at a midyear conference, recounting industry lessons learned during the 15...

Despite Less Driving During 2020 Pandemic, Traffic Deaths Were Highest In 13 Years

Jun 21 2021 // Even though Americans drove less in 2020 due to the pandemic, early estimates of crash fatalities from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal the largest...

How Agents Can Help Construction Clients Prepare for Post-Pandemic Growth

Jun 21 2021 // Nearly a decade of continuous construction industry growth was halted in 2020 as the industry battled direct and collateral effects from COVID-19. According to Nationwide’s recent Agent Authority research,...

What Pandemic Auto Premium Givebacks? Many Customers Unaware, Says J.D. Power

Jun 18 2021 // During the COVID-19 pandemic, auto insurers have returned more than $18 billion in premiums to address the drastic reduction in driving. It turns out all that extra money didn’t make consumers any happier, if they...

French Chef Seeks $1.9M from Allianz for Biz Income Losses During COVID Lockdowns

Jun 17 2021 // A French Michelin three-star chef is asking Allianz SE for 1.6 million euros ($1.9 million) in insurance claims for losses suffered by his restaurants during the country’s lockdowns, a person familiar with the matter...

Utah Traffic Deaths Involving Alcohol Doubled During Pandemic

Jun 16 2021 // Transportation officials have reported nearly twice as many people died in alcohol-involved crashes on Utah roads last year compared to the year before, despite less commuter traffic during the coronavirus pandemic.The...

Royal Caribbean Delays Cruise Launch After 8 Crew Test Positive for COVID-19

Jun 16 2021 // Royal Caribbean Group said on Wednesday it would delay the inaugural sailing of its Odyssey of the Seas cruise liner by nearly a month after eight crew members tested positive for COVID-19.The news comes a week after two...

COVID Crisis Cuts Global Macro Resilience, Raises Insurance Protection Gap: Swiss Re

Jun 16 2021 // The COVID-19 crisis reduced overall global macro resilience – or the ability of societies to absorb shocks – by 18% in 2020 from 2019, according to a sigma report published by Swiss Re Institute. At the same time, the...

New OSHA Covid-19 Standard Covers Healthcare Employees Only

Jun 14 2021 // The Department of Labor has promulgated an emergency temporary standard (ETS) designed to protect healthcare workers but did not extend the rule to other high-risk employment such as manufacturing, grocery or high-volume...

Judge Dismisses Texas Hospital Workers’ Suit Challenging Covid Vaccine Mandate

Jun 13 2021 // A U.S. federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by 117 workers at a Texas hospital over its requirement that they be vaccinated against COVID-19.U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes upheld Houston Methodist...

Proposed Bill Allowing Rider for Pandemic BI Coverage Moves Forward in New Jersey

Jun 11 2021 // A New Jersey bill that would allow business interruption insurers in the state to add a rider for virus and pandemic coverage is moving forward, with some in the industry saying it could encourage more insurers to provide...