Ecclesiastical has again extended its temporary cover enhancements to support customers during the second lockdown.
The specialist insurer originally introduced a series of temporary cover enhancements in April in response to the first UK-wide lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, which saw businesses close and many employees forced to work from home.
It has now reintroduced these following the UK Government’s introduction of a lockdown in England on 5 November to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
The cover enhancements include:
- Extending contents cover for businesses to cover office equipment while employees are working from home until 31 December where policies do not already provide cover
- Ensuring there are no changes to premium and policy cover for premises forced to temporarily close their doors due the lockdown until 2 December
To assist businesses that don’t automatically have this cover, the insurer has extended all policies to provide cover for contents temporarily removed to the homes of employees due to the COVID-19 outbreak up to a limit of £2,500 for any one item and a maximum of £5,000 per employee’s home.
The enhancements mean Ecclesiastical’s policy will respond to claims if work laptops, phones and other standard technology usually stored at the office and now within an employee’s home are stolen or damaged. For education insurance policies this extension will additionally extend cover to pupils’ and students’ homes.
Ecclesiastical has also relaxed the rules on temporarily closed commercial properties, ensuring there are no changes to premium and cover for premises forced to close as a result of the second lockdown.
Adrian Saunders, Commercial Director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “This is an unsettling and challenging time for many families and businesses and we want to support those who are affected by the impact of Covid-19 by reassuring them their insurance will still cover them working from home during this second lockdown.
“If customers have any questions about what’s covered under their policy, then they should talk to their broker, and we have written to brokers with details of our coverage enhancements to support them in this.”
Full details of the changes to cover can be found at: https://ecclesiastical.com/latest-news/temporary-cover-update-november