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The Coronavirus AKA Covid-19

Coronaviruses are a large family of respiratory viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

So far, the main clinical signs and symptoms reported in this outbreak include fever, difficulty in breathing, and chest radiographs showing bilateral lung infiltrates.

Symptoms suggestive of acute respiratory illness before, during or after travel, with travellers encouraged to seek medical attention and share travel history with their health care provider.

Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO)and World Health Organisation (WHO) Travel Advice

As of the 25 January 2020 the FCO upgraded protocol regarding Italy to advise against all but essential travel to 10 small towns in Lombardy (Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano) and one in Veneto (Vo’ Euganeo), which have been isolated by the Italian authorities due to an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The government of Italy has introduced extraordinary measures that allow regions to implement civil protection measures in response to coronavirus, including the isolation of these towns.

Your Cover

A standard travel policy will automatically excluded cover where a policyholder travels against the advice of the FCO, Cancellation and Curtailment sections also exclude cover for claims arising directly or indirectly from travel arrangements affected by or contributed to, or by order of any government or public/local authority.  However, some travel arrangements will have been made by customers prior to the FCO’s advice being published.

Policyholders who had purchased travel insurance and travelled before the FCO issued its advice on 25 February 2020 will be covered as normal while in the affected regions of Italy.

Any customers with cancellation or curtailment claims arising under valid policies incepted before 25 February 2020 with pre-booked travel and accommodation to one of the listed towns above, booked prior to 25 February 2020 will be considered under the normal terms and conditions. Policyholders will need to provide their original booking confirmation alongside evidence of cancellation costs and any refunds.

For customers who have booked travel to travel to one of the affected towns after 25 February 2020, these claims will be excluded as these were booked after the date the FCO advised against travel.

Policyholders who had booked their trip via a tour operator or travel agent or using a credit card should contact them to see if they can get a refund or have their trip re-arranged.

Please note that this guide of for travellers who were travelling to one of the listed towns/regions only, and travel to Italy has not been completely restricted.