Latest COVID-19 Headlines

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

Businesses Filing More COVID Lawsuits and the Stakes are Higher

Apr 19 2021 // The anniversary of COVID-19 shutdown orders brought an upturn in both the number of business-interruption lawsuits against insurers and the amount of damages they are claiming.In the past month: A New Jersey hospital...

Report: 44K-Plus Workers’ Comp COVID-19 Claims Filed in Texas by Mid-February

Apr 19 2021 // An updated report on workers’ compensation claims in Texas related to COVID-19 shows that insurance carriers had reported more than 44,000 COVID-19 claims and 200 fatalities to the state’s workers’...

Risk of COVID-19 Exposure on Airlines Drops when Middle Seats Are Empty: Study

Apr 16 2021 // The risk of being exposed to the COVID-19 virus on an airline flight drops by as much as half when airlines keep middle seats open, a new study published by the U.S. government concludes, a safety practice the carriers...

COVID Liability Shield for Businesses Becomes Law in Kentucky

Apr 15 2021 // Kentucky’s governor stood aside and let a bill become law that protects an array of businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits. But he warned Monday that the measure is likely to draw a court challenge.The measure,...

IBM Uncovers More Cyber Attacks on COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Chain

Apr 15 2021 // International Business Machines Corp. said on Wednesday its cyber-security unit has uncovered more digital attacks targeting the global COVID-19 vaccine supply chain since the issue was originally flagged late last...

Understanding Florida’s Sweeping New Immunity Law for COVID-19 Claims

Apr 15 2021 // Florida became one of the first states in the country last month to pass and sign into law a statute directed toward providing immunity to businesses for COVID-19 related lawsuits. To be clear, the law does not prevent all...

Allstate Sees Surge in Demand for Pay-Per-Mile Insurance During COVID Shutdowns

Apr 14 2021 // The COVID-19 shutdowns that swept the U.S. have been a boon for a newer auto-insurance product: pay-per-mile coverage.During the pandemic, Allstate Corp. has seen interest surge in its Milewise offering, which lets...

Aon Collaborates with Insurer Partners to Protect Global COVID-19 Vaccine Shipments

Apr 13 2021 // Insurance broker Aon plc has introduced a new solution, through broad industry collaboration, that will provide supply chain protection for global COVID-19 vaccine shipments.The solution provides transparent cargo...

U.S. Recommends Pausing Use of J&J COVID Vaccine over Rare Blood Clots

Apr 13 2021 // U.S. federal health agencies on Tuesday recommended pausing use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine for at least a few days after six women under age 50 developed rare blood clots after receiving the shot,...

OSHA Prepares to Issue Emergency Regulations to Protect Workers from COVID-19

Apr 13 2021 // Mask mandates are coming down across the country, even as COVID cases are rising in most states. But the Biden administration appears poised to reinstate masking and other social distancing rules for recalcitrant governors...

Kentucky Judge Rules Businesses Harmed by COVID Restrictions

Apr 12 2021 // A Kentucky judge on Friday temporarily blocked applying some of the state’s pandemic-related restrictions to several restaurants and breweries challenging the governor’s actions.Scott County Circuit Judge Brian...

U.S. P/C Insurers Report 2020 Underwriting Profits Despite Costs of COVID-19: Fitch

Apr 12 2021 // Despite considerable operating challenges in 2020 from the global COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. property/casualty (P/C) insurers saw a statutory underwriting profit for the third consecutive year, with an average 99% combined...

Insurance Industry Showcases Philanthropic, COVID Relief Initiatives

Apr 9 2021 // The insurance industry nonprofit Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) gave insurance industry leaders an opportunity to talk about their philanthropic initiatives at a recent media event. Leaders from AIG,...

Home Working Likely to Remain – Even After Pandemic Ends: UK Survey

Apr 8 2021 // Home working is likely to remain after the pandemic finishes, according to a survey of 2,000 companies the UK, most of which are planning to allow employees greater flexibility on where and when they do their jobs.CIPD,...

Arizona Governor Signs COVID-19 Liability Shield Bill into Law

Apr 7 2021 // Gov. Doug Ducey has signed legislation giving businesses, nursing homes and others a broad shield from lawsuits related to COVID-19, making Arizona the latest state to limit liability after the pandemic.Republican...

Grant Thornton Staff in UK Want to Stay Home After Pandemic, in New Blow to the Office

Apr 7 2021 // In a fresh blow to the office, staff at one of the UK’s largest accountancy firms have given strong support to working mostly from home after the pandemic subsides.A survey of Grant Thornton UK LLP employees found...

How SpottedRisk and TigerRisk Tamed ‘Live Cat’ COVID Event for Entertainment Insureds

Apr 7 2021 // In the early months of the pandemic last year, brokers just couldn’t place insurance for the entertainment industry. In late February 2020, underwriters began excluding communicable disease from all of the underlying...

1 in 3 COVID Survivors Suffers Neurological or Mental Disorders, Study Finds

Apr 7 2021 // One in three COVID-19 survivors in a study of more than 230,000 mostly American patients were diagnosed with a brain or psychiatric disorder within six months, suggesting the pandemic could lead to a wave of mental and...

PwC Announces Hybrid Post-COVID Working Model for UK Staff

Apr 5 2021 // PricewaterhouseCoopers will give UK staff Friday afternoons off this summer and allow them to choose the amount of time they spend working from home as part of a post-pandemic shakeup of working patterns.The accountancy...

Virginia Health Workers With COVID Get Workers’ Comp Unless They Refuse Vaccine

Apr 5 2021 // Virginia has passed a law making it easier for some healthcare workers who become ill with COVID-19 to collect medical expenses or lost wages.But there’s a catch: the law excludes healthcare workers who are offered a...