COVID-19 Considerations and Resources for Your Businesses

As the number of reported cases of COVID-19 continues to rise, so do the questions.

How can we keep ourselves and our family healthy?
How do we protect our employees and clients?
How will this affect business operations?
How will businesses deal with any reduction in activity or revenue loss?
How will insurance policies respond to workers or customers who allege the virus was contracted through business?
Will insurance policies assist in the cost of disinfecting business property or compensate for the loss of revenue?

Although there remains a great amount of uncertainty, what is becoming clear is that no business is immune from the potential impact of this virus. COVID-19 warrants the attention of leadership teams to gain an understanding of the potential risk, take mitigating actions, and develop a plan to implement if needed.

Our agency is working diligently to take necessary precautions for our employees and assure minimal interruption to our operations so we are here when you need us.

The following are additional considerations and resources complied to help your business.

Additional Considerations:

Employment:

How will you accommodate employees that must be home quarantined?
Will you forbid employees to come to work if they've potentially been exposed?
Have you determined any HIPAA restrictions on what information you share with employees about the COVID-19 related health of another team member?
Have you identified key personnel with critical functions and alternatives to handle?

Working Remotely:

Have you identified employees that could work remotely?
Can you secure any needed additional equipment or resources for remote work?
Have you established guidelines for handling sensitive material at remote locations?
Have you determined how you will handle employees that can work remote versus others that can not?

Receivables:

Have you determined if you will or can provide flexibility to customers to pay for your goods and services?

Contracts:

Have you reviewed your contracts to determine what implications, if any, if you are unable to fulfill your obligations?

COVID-19 and Insurance

Many have questioned if their property insurance would pay the cost of disinfecting their business property if needed. Based on industry interpretation of policy language thus far, contamination of business property with COVID-19 would not be considered a 'direct physical loss' and expenses therefore not covered.

The Business Income/Extra Expense coverage would not be activated for loss of revenue due to the closing of operations to disinfect or reduction in business due to public voluntary or government imposed restricted activity. This coverage is activated by a covered loss only.

As the insurance industry has to evolve when new risks/exposures develop, the organization that creates coverage forms is finalizing an endorsement to extend some limited Business Income coverage resulting from the coronavirus. It will be available for carriers to file for use, or carriers may develop their own, but today neither can be secured.

In regards to Workers Compensation, an employee who contracts the coronavirus would be eligible for worker’s compensation benefits if it was found the COVID-19 diagnosis arose out of and in the course of employment. Although this may be difficult, there would be coverage if found to be true.

Other insurance policies that may also come into consideration - general liability, professional liability, directors & officers.

Although the consensus is that insurance will not be a solution for many situations that may evolve from COVID-19, if your business is impacted please contact us as we will file a claim with the carrier on your behalf for a firm determination.

Resources to Guide Your Business

Sample Communication to Employees

Tips to Handle an Infectious Disease Outbreak

CDC Interim Guide for Employers

In order to help employers plan and respond to COVID-19, the CDC has issued the following interim guidance:

Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of signs of a fever and any other symptoms of COVID-19 for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines. What’s more, employees should be instructed to notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.
Separate sick employees. Employees who appear to have acute respiratory illness symptoms (e.g., cough or shortness of breath) upon arrival to work or become sick during the day should be separated from other employees and be sent home immediately. Sick employees should cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
Emphasize hand hygiene. Instruct employees to clean their hands often with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60%-95% alcohol, or wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
Perform routine environmental cleaning. Employers should routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, countertops and doorknobs.

Additional Best Practices

In addition to following the CDC’s interim guidance, employers should consider the following best practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

Educate employees on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and the precautions that can be taken to minimize the risk of contracting the virus, without causing panic.
Appoint a single individual or department as the point of contact within your organization for employee questions about COVID-19.
Review safety programs and emergency action plans to ensure that they include infectious-disease protocols.
Implement travel guidelines and procedures for approving travel to and from China.

US Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued:

Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease, providing recommended workplace strategies for employers and guidance on how to decrease COVID-19 spread, how to respond to outbreaks, and additional resources

You can keep up to date on CDC guidance for specific industries, latest updates, and resources.

OSHA

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has created a COVID-19 website for workers and employers addressing the disease, providing guidance, and other resources for preventing exposure to and infection with the virus.

Topics covered include:

World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organizations website provides a wealth of information surrounding the current circumstances including basic protective measures, travel advice, news briefs, and technical guidance.

Health & Human Services (HHS)

In response to COVID-19, the Office of Civil Rights for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a bulletin regarding HIPAA Privacy and COVID-19.

EEOC

While not specifically related to COVID-19, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has previously issued guidance entitled Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act .

Mass Department of Health

Providing guidance and information specific to Massachusetts. Visit MA Dept. of Public Health