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Please note: this article was correct at the time of writing and publication. However, please bear in mind that advice and guidance may change at short notice due to the nature of this unprecedented situation. We are doing our utmost to provide up to date information, as and when it happens.
For the latest, please visit www.ncass.org.uk/coronavirus
On 9th March, The Events Industry Forum (of which we are members) sent a letter to government requesting a meeting to address the potential impact of COVID-19 on our industry. We will keep you up to date with any responses and developments as and when they happen.
AIF (Association for Independent Festivals) is advised that all event cancellation insurance policies that are bound from now on (until further notice) will have the below (or a similar) exclusion in them. Insurance brokers are being told by underwriters that this is mandatory and non-negotiable until more is known about the virus.
Communicable disease is a standard exclusion in all contingency insurance policies and very few festival organisers have historically bought the additional cover. A few festivals (mainly worried about foot and mouth disease) have previously bought the cover.
Brokers can still provide communicable disease cover and it will include foot and mouth and other diseases but will now include the following (or a similar) exclusion.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, this policy excludes losses:
(i) directly or indirectly arising from any fear or threat (whether actual or perceived) of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) or any mutant variation thereof
(ii) directly or indirectly caused by, resulting from or in connection with any action taken in controlling, preventing, suppressing or in any way relating to any outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) or any mutant variation thereof
(iii) directly or indirectly caused by the imposition of quarantine or restriction in movement of people or animals by any national or international body or agency pertaining to any outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) or any mutant variation thereof
(iv) directly or indirectly caused by any travel advisory or warning being issued by a national or international body or agency pertaining to any outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) or any mutant variation thereof and in respect of (ii) to (iv) any fear or threat thereof (whether actual or perceived).”
On 2nd March 2020, members of the Events Industry Forum (EIF) joined a conference call with the Deputy Chief Medical officer with regards to the potential risks of Coronavirus to events. The advice was as follows:
The advice from The Association of Independent Festivals mirrors that of the government. Chair of the AIF, Steve Heap told us: “What we are saying is do not cancel anything. And if HM government use their war footing powers to stop public events, then we will recommend postponement, NOT cancellations, so that events can transfer business to next year, or later in the year if possible.”
A total of 13,525 people in the UK had been tested for Covid-19 at the time of writing. 13,485 of those cases were confirmed to be negative, whilst 40 were positive.
UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk in the UK from low to moderate. We will be updating our members on changes in figures and risk as they happen. In the meantime, general information regarding Covid-19, i.e. numbers of cases etc. are available via www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-infmation-for-the-public.
Up to date information regarding UK events can be found at: www.festivalorganisers.org/news
We understand that this is a difficult time for you and leaves our sector in an uncertain position.
We will update you as soon as we have more information and, in the meantime, we will continue to liaise with government and industry associations to give you as much guidance as possible.
To discuss any of the above points or if you have any questions, please contact your NCASS Account Manager on 0300 124 6866 Monday -Thursday 9-5:30pm and Friday 9am – 5pm.
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