COVID-19 Insights

April 19, 2022
High PFAS exposure linked to Increased COVID-19 Risks
New research supports a theory that exposure to Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may hinder the human body’s ability to fight off Covid-19. There are calls for more research on this topic given the known connection between PFAS and the immune system.

April 11, 2022
The Devastating Impacts of Covid-19 on Education
Per reports, not only did many children lose caretakers to Covid-19, but their education also suffered. New research suggests that overall learning has decreased dramatically over the past two years, and so too has educational attainment. The economic impact of this loss of schooling could reach nearly $17 trillion over the next several years and catalyze other potentially negative externalities.

March 21, 2022
Exploring Genetic and Acquired Immunity to Covid-19
Research into why some people appear resistant to Covid-19 continues even as the pandemic wanes. Per reports, such immunities may be the result of one’s own genome, interactions with other coronaviruses, a robust immune system, or a mix of all of the above and more. However, genuine immunity may not actually exist, and such beliefs, valid or not, could influence a person’s decision to not get vaccinated.

March 7, 2022
Examining Children's Relative Immunity to Covid-19
Per numerous studies, children appear to be both more resistant to Covid-19, and less likely to spread the disease. New research suggests that both smaller lungs, and a still developing immune system may play a significant role in children’s health relative to the disease. However, Covid-19 still poses a real danger children, and this perceived immunity may cause parents to hold off on vaccinating their children.  

February 23, 2022
Previously Undetected Coronavirus Mutation Observed in NYC Sewage
Urban wastewater continues to be an informative source of data for coronavirus scientists. Such data may not only provide early warning signs of a pandemic but may also alert scientists to new mutations. For example, according to reports, evidence of mutated coronaviruses previously undetected in human patients have been found in sewage samples from New York City and one location in California.

February 15, 2022
Examining the Potential Long-Term Economic Impacts of Long Covid
As more information about “long Covid” comes to light, the potential long-term impacts of the disease become clearer. Per reports, not only can long Covid have devastating impacts on a person’s life, but it may also negatively impact the global economy. Reportedly, long Covid may be responsible for over 10 million American jobs going unfilled. 

January 26, 2022
The Problem with Calling Covid-19 "Mild"
Although the symptoms associated with the omicron variant of Covid-19 are reportedly less severe than other variants, the virus is still extremely dangerous, and in many cases deadly. Experts are apparently concerned that referring to a strain of Covid-19 as “mild” may be downplaying the actual risks of infection. 

January 11, 2022
How Accurate are Current Covid-19 Infection Counts?
An increase of at-home Covid-19 testing, in conjunction with backlogs at in-person testing sites, reportedly has some health experts concerned that the current infection rates may not be accurate. Further, at-home tests themselves are not always 100% accurate. Ultimately, a new method of tracking Covid-19 cases may be needed.

January 4, 2022
Pandemic Economic Indicators: 2021 EOY Update
Various economic indicators reportedly reveal a trend towards recovery from pandemic impacts.

December 13, 2021
The Link Between Covid-19 and White-Tailed Deer
White-tailed deer are purportedly a major reservoir of the SARS-CoV virus, with some studies reporting that upwards of 40% of deer have tested positive for antibodies. Health experts warn that deer populations can serve as a source of new variants of Covid-19, among other issues that make combating the virus more challenging.

December 13, 2021
How Effective Are Covid-19 Nasal Swabs?
Getting tested for Covid-19 has become a routine part of many people’s lives, and said tests generally involve a nasal swab. There are three different types of nasal swab tests, with more invasive tests reportedly being more accurate. Complicating the matter, countries and institutions around the world appear to be having difficulty agreeing on which best practices to promote when it comes to nasal swabs.

December 13, 2021
New Experimental Chewing Gum Could Limit the Spread of Covid-19
According to reports, researchers have successfully developed a chewing gum that’s capable of trapping the Covid-19 virus within a person’s mouth. This is likely important because Covid-19 is often spread via saliva. In due course, this gum may become yet another useful means to limit the spread of Covid-19, especially in clinical settings.

November 15, 2021
Pandemic Supply Chain Concerns Cause Retailers to Charter Cargo Transport
Delays in the retail supply chain caused by the pandemic have prompted some retailers to seek expensive workarounds such as chartering cargo ships and containers; in addition, a West Coast dock worker contract will expire mid-2022 which could potentially continue to further delays.

November 8, 2021
Poor Countries Struggle to Acquire Covid-19 Vaccines and Treatments
Although a Covid-19 vaccine is reportedly widely available in most affluent countries, this is not the case for the billions of people living in the world’s poorest countries – some of which currently have a vaccination rate of only one percent. Poor countries are also struggling to acquire treatments like remdesivir or Merck’s new antiviral drug molnupiravir, despite efforts to make these drugs more available to them and supplies actually often being hindered by wealthy countries pre-ordering massive quantities of the drugs.

November 8, 2021
DOJ Alleges Losses Over $1 billion From COVID-19, Telemedicine Fraud and Illegal Opioid Prescriptions
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced cases that allege fraudulent schemes involving billions of dollars in losses in falsely-billed government health insurance claims related to COVID-19 healthcare and telemedicine; the DOJ also announced cases alleging the prescription of 12 million illegal doses of opioids and other narcotics.

November 5, 2021
Tuberculosis Infections on the Rise – Pandemic to Blame?
The World Health Organization recently released their 2021 Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report, wherein the organization notes that for the first time in a decade TB infections are increasing. Some experts suggest that Covid-19 is largely responsible for this surge, noting that healthcare resources are stretched thin by the pandemic and more, fear of Covid-19 may cause some TB patients to forgo visiting medical centers for both diagnoses and treatments.

October 26, 2021
Flu Season Has Some Experts Concerned About A Possible "Twindemic"
Some health experts are worried about a potentially devastating flu season given that many localities are still battling Covid-19. Research suggests that contracting both Covid-19 and the flu at the same time is extremely dangerous and more than doubles one's risk of dying. Thankfully, early indicators suggest that this year's flu season may be mild, though that may change as time progresses.

October 12, 2021
Medical Misinformation Prolonging Pandemic
Covid-19 misinformation may be prolonging the pandemic by increasing vaccine hesitancy, spreading dangerous information about faulty cures, and creating animosity between hospital patients and staff. Experts assert that understanding and preventing the impacts of misinformation may be critical to successfully overcoming the pandemic.

September 20, 2021
Global Pandemic Impacts Global Efforts to Combat TB, HIV and Malaria
A non-for-profit group that combats various diseases worldwide, has released a report highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their efforts to address tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria. Additionally, some researchers are concerned about how COVID-19 could activate so-called "latent tuberculosis."

September 13, 2021
Covid-19 and Mental Health
The Covid-19 pandemic appears to have either created or exacerbated a host of mental health issues for individuals worldwide. In addition to marked increase in reports of anxiety and depression, the pandemic has also been linked with an increase in substance use as well as political unrest and even violence.

September 8, 2021
How Have Americans Spent Their Time this Year?
The results of the 2020 American Time Use Survey Summary found that, on average, Americans are working less, traveling less, and socializing less, but were spending more time on leisure. These results highlight just how significantly the Covid-19 pandemic has changed how we spend our time.

August 31, 2021
Vaccination Mandates - Legality, Considerations, and Health Insurance
Employers are reportedly allowed to mandate vaccinations as long as they make reasonable considerations for those that cannot be vaccinated. However, there are a myriad of considerations that an employer may wish to better understand before mandating a vaccination, not the least of which is the possible impact on health insurance premiums.

August 16, 2021
New Data Suggests Some Americans May Have Become Desensitized to Covid-19
Fear-based messaging campaigns may lose their efficacy relatively quickly, suggests new research from UC Davis. While many people responded to safety messaging during the beginning of the pandemic, since then, fewer people appear to be following recommended safety precautions. Moreover, fear may be an ineffective means to motivate unvaccinated people to get vaccinated.

August 9, 2021
New Study Shows COVID-19 Likely to Be Seasonal 
A new study provides more evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 will ebb and flow with the change of seasons much like other respiratory viruses; also, another study indicates that symptoms caused by the virus are likely to become milder over the next ten years.

August 9, 2021
Massive Investments Target Development of Pill for Covid-19 Treatment 
The Biden administration recently announced a $3.2 billion fund made available to create both a Covid-19 pill as well as other antiviral medicines. A pill may be an effective means to both keep people safe from Covid-19, while also limiting its spread because vaccines are not always 100% effective and not all people can or will get vaccinated. Finally, the benefits of preparing for a future pandemic by creating new medicine now cannot be understated.

August 2, 2021
Covid-19 Causing Millions to Go Hungry Worldwide 
The pandemic has reportedly caused hunger to spike across the globe, with over 270 million people now at risk of malnutrition. The problem is not exclusive to developing countries; in the U.S, hunger is also allegedly trending higher with over 13 million children at risk in 2021.

July 26, 2021
Phone Scams Surged During Pandemic – Victims Lost Billions
Americans have reportedly lost nearly $30 billion to phone scams over the past year, as fraudsters have taken advantage of the global pandemic to find new ways to separate victims from their money. Beyond phone scams, which appear to be evolving in complexity, other Covid-19 related scams also pose a risk to consumers.

July 19, 2021
Students Using Soda and Juice to Force False Positive Covid-19 Test Results
Reportedly, Covid-19 lateral flow tests are vulnerable to tampering via acidic drinks; a few drops of certain beverages on the test strips may force a false positive result. Videos on social media instructing people (largely targeted at youths) how to do this have reportedly been viewed millions of times and continue to garner interactions despite attempts to ban such videos.

July 12, 2021
Traffic May Take Years to "Recover" from Covid-19
Traffic has decreased significantly since the beginning of the pandemic. In some areas traffic congestion may take several years to return to expected levels. Notably, COVID-19 hospitalizations do not appear to have greatly influenced traffic patterns.

July 6, 2021
mRNA Vaccines Moving Beyond Covid-19: Malaria, Flu, and Cancer Vaccines all Reportedly in the Works
The Covid-19 pandemic instigated massive investments in medical research which in turn lead to numerous scientific advancements. Some of these achievements will likely benefit society after the pandemic, especially mRNA vaccines.

June 28, 2021
Pandemic Accelerates Alcohol Consumption By Women in US
Drinking alcohol in the US has reportedly been increasing since the 2000s; pandemic stress and isolation seems to be accelerating this trend even more so for women.

June 21, 2021
Covid-19 Correlated with a Reduction in Flu Cases – Some Precautions to Remain?
Covid-19 precautions may have dramatically reduced the number of influenza infections over the past year, potentially causing some strains of the virus to go extinct. Government agencies suggest that some Covid-19 measures may continue during future flu seasons.

June 15, 2021
Covid-19 Reportedly Causing Major Disruption Throughout Supply Chains
Limited inventories and disrupted supply chains are reportedly causing shortages across numerous industries. These shortages may prompt some companies to reassess their business strategies.

June 15, 2021
Microneedle Patches May Facilitate Future Vaccinations
What if people could self-inoculate?  Researchers are developing patches that could potentially efficiently deliver various drugs such as vaccines without hypodermic pain.

June 7, 2021
Cancers and Other Diseases May be Going Undiagnosed Due to Covid-19-Related Restrictions
Due to the current pandemic many people may be deferring or avoiding medical treatment and screenings. Because of this, cancer diagnoses may dramatically increase in the coming years. Further, other diseases may be going undiagnosed as well, posing a risk not just to individuals but also to those around them.

June 7, 2021
Canine Connections to Coronaviruses
Scientists have identified a likely non-contagious new coronavirus (CCoV-HuPn-2018) transmission from dogs to humans; they expect new transmissions from animals about every ten years and have developed a new test to help detect any type of coronavirus in humans, not just specifically known varieties. Also, trained dogs may be better than some rapid antigen tests at detecting infected people.

June 1, 2021
Relaxed Mask Mandates May Prompt Some People to Lie About Being Vaccinated
Mask mandates are slowly being relaxed for vaccinated people, but businesses may not have a clear way of determining who is and is not vaccinated. Moreover, experts suggest that unvaccinated people may simply lie as a means of avoiding wearing a mask.

May 24, 2021
FBI Issues Stern Warning Against Counterfeit Covid-19 Vaccination Cards
Per the FBI, counterfeit Covid-19 vaccination cards are being sold online, despite their warning of potentially severe consequences for distributing or purchasing them. Reportedly, these counterfeit cards may increase the spread of Covid-19, ultimately prolonging the pandemic.

May 17, 2021
Pandemic May Usher in New Antiviral Surface Technologies
The transmissibility of the Covid-19 virus via surfaces may be lower than first thought, nonetheless, new technologies are being developed that can keep surfaces viral free for longer periods of time.

May 10, 2021
Covid-19: Increase in Screen Time May Leave Kids More Vulnerable Online
An increase in time spent online, as a result of Covid-19, may leave children more vulnerable to security breaches, harassment, and even online predators.

May 3, 2021
Study to Examine PFAS Exposure and COVID-19
What is the number one environmental concern for US adults? Apparently, drinking water contamination is now their top concern, according to a 2021 Gallup poll that focused on the environment.

April 26, 2021
OIG Survey: Covid-19 Impacts May Cause Serious Long-term Changes in Healthcare Industry
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently published a report discussing some of the long-term impacts of Covid-19 on the healthcare industry, according to The National Law Review.

April 19, 2021
Pandemic Thermal Scanners May Have Built-in Flaw
Midway through the pandemic in 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reportedly decided to temporarily lift a vetting requirement for thermal scanners.

April 12, 2021
Pandemic Market Oddity: N95 Mask Shortage Despite Availability
Many small U.S. healthcare facilities are reportedly in short supply of N95 masks despite a supply of masks actually being readily available for sale. What is happening?

April 12, 2021
Study: Pandemic Age-Based Contact Patterns Potentially Key to Surge Mitigation
Science has reported on a study that leveraged contact patterns learned from combined data from Europe and China Asia, to analyze U.S. data to identify, in part, which age demographics were mostly driving surges of COVID-19 virus transmissions in 2020.

April 5, 2021
Pandemic May Accelerate Food Supply Chain Resiliency
In 2020, the pandemic reportedly tested the ability of many stakeholders within the food supply chain. What happened, didn't happen and how are some stakeholders adjusting to mitigate future interruptions?

March 22, 2021
mRNA Vaccines Seem to Greatly Prevent Symptom-Less COVID-19 Transmission
In the world of communicable diseases, no news is definitely not always good news: symptom-less transmission reportedly happens and can contribute significantly to viral spread.

March 15, 2021
New Models and AI May Improve COVID-19 Case Estimates
COVID-19 tracking websites, such as the one provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), typically rely, in part, on counting cases of infection confirmed by testing.

March 8, 2021
Update: Several Smartwatch Studies Seek to Detect Onset of COVID-19
Someday your watch may alert you before your body does about a viral infection, such as COVID-19.

March 8, 2021
The Good, Bad and Ugly of Science's Pandemic Pivot
All eyes have been on the scientific community to produce solutions to combat COVID-19, but how has the pandemic affected that community and research on other diseases?

March 1, 2021
COVID-19 - A First Look at Distorted General Liability Actuarial Patterns
Media reports indicate that the first reported case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was in late January 2020, and the first fatality from COVID-19 in early February.

March 1, 2021
UK COVID-19 Confirmed Cases May Be Missing Some
Back in October 2020, Nature reported that researchers had developed a database to collect global data on confirmed cases of COVID-19 from over 94 countries based on PCR test data—the test reportedly recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

February 22, 2021
AI Voice Assistants May Perpetuate Gender Bias
Thinking of buying a bot for your business? A recent study from the Brookings Institute and the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), highlights some concerns related to how such AI-powered voice assistants, also known as chatbots, may promote and perpetuate gender bias.

February 8, 2021
Some Trends in Pandemic-related Litigation Activity
Lexology has reported on some trends of litigation related to the pandemic.

February 1, 2021
Study: Children Can Still Detect Facial Expressions Despite Pandemic Masks
During the pandemic a parent may be happy, sad or angry, but are their children learning valuable social cues from seeing a face covered by the pandemic's iconic surgical mask?

February 1, 2021
Pandemic Impact: Shortage in Computer Chips for Automakers
Many companies adapted to the changes in demand caused by the 2020 pandemic, with some switching product capacity priorities; the effects of such choices may not have been immediately apparent, but one now seems to be clear in 2021Q1.

February 1, 2021
Study: Airflow Can Likely Mitigate COVID-19 Risk in Vehicles
Back in July 2020, we posted about the concerns of the aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus.

January 25, 2021
Pandemic May Accelerate Several Trends Forecast for 2030
A professor from the Wharton School of Management recently published a book entitled "2030: How Today's Biggest Trends Will Collide And Reshape The Future Of Everything".

January 19, 2021
Pandemic Impact: Some Economic Indicators May Reveal What's Next
The COVID-19 pandemic has obviously affected the economy in many ways. A Brookings Institute report in September 2020 highlighted that the pandemic had caused demand, supply and financial shock—and nearly all at the same time.

January 19, 2021
Pandemic Shopping Logjams Shipping Ports
The surge of consumer shopping during the pandemic, in part, has apparently pushed the global container shipping industry to record-levels of activity that have clogged ports and raised rates—and of course COVID-19 has reportedly hindered the port workers who face the challenge of processing these containers.

January 11, 2021
Global Logistics of the COVID-19 Vaccine's Supply Chain
NPR's Planet Money takes a closer look at the global supply chain for vaccines in their December 2020 podcast (includes transcript).

January 11, 2021
U.S. Pharmacies Scramble For COVID-19 Vaccinators
Various pharmacies throughout the U.S. are planning to offer COVID-19 vaccines but will there be enough certified professionals to administer the vaccine?

January 4, 2021
CDC: Monitoring COVID-19 Risk From Donated Organs
Based on some preliminary research, experts have been reportedly concerned that COVID-19 might be transmitted from a donated organ.

December 14, 2020
Hotels and Cruise Ships Add Air Filters to Combat COVID-19
Back in October 2020, we posted that there is reportedly a risk that the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, may be transmitted through the air from an infected person within so-called aerosols.

December 14, 2020
An Increase in 'Stalkerware' is Posing Privacy Issues During the Pandemic
In May 2020, we posted about reports pointing to, in part, a spike in domestic violence incidents that had transpired during COVID-19 lockdowns.

November 30, 2020
A COVID-19 Winter is Coming: What Property Risks Might be on the Horizon?
COVID-19 has posed unprecedented challenges over the course of 2020. And with just a few weeks before the ball drops to mercifully usher in 2021, the temperate regions of the U.S. are facing another major hurdle: navigating a COVID-19 winter and the risk environment that may correspond.

November 23, 2020
WHO: Mink-related 'Cluster 5 Variant' of SARS-CoV-2 Raises Concern
Many viruses naturally mutate, especially RNA viruses such as HIV, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2, and usually these mutations do not affect viral transmissibility or the severity of a resulting disease, according to an article in Nature.

November 23, 2020
Study: Immune System Responsive to SARS-CoV-2 at Least Six Months After Infection
Research produced by the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium (UK-CIC), Public Health England and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust has produced some potentially positive findings pertaining to the duration of immunity from individuals who had been inflicted with COVID-19 (this study has yet to be peer-reviewed, per the UK-CIC website).

November 16, 2020
The Use of QR Codes Has Picked Up During COVID-19: What are the Cyber Risks?
Many businesses have been forced to adapt in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, largely to minimize contact between different parties and limit potential exposure to the virus.

November 16, 2020
Single Grocery Store Study Reveals Potential Hub for COVID-19 Virus
BMJ Journals has reported on a study (PDF version here) of some grocery store workers at a single location in Massachusetts.

November 9, 2020
Restaurants: Liability Considerations For a COVID-19 Winter
You’d be forgiven if you’ve hit the point where you never want to see or hear the word “unprecedented” ever again.

November 9, 2020
COVID-19 Crisis Evictions May Surge
Back in July 2020, we posted about the Princeton University Eviction Lab's forecast that 20-28 million people in the U.S. faced evictions between July and September 2020.

November 2, 2020
Indirect Health Impact Trends Resulting From COVID-19 Are Surfacing
With over 1.1 million deaths worldwide (over 200,000 of which in the United States), coupled with various long-term issues and concerns, the direct impacts resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak are clear.

November 2, 2020
Nowcasting Disease: Some Web Analytics Data Strongly Correlates With COVID-19 Outbreaks
Can web searches by the public help predict the outbreak of a disease?

November 2, 2020
Actually, It Can Happen to Us: Volcanic Event
COVID-19 has been an eye opening experience across the world, especially for the risk management community.

October 26, 2020
Study: SARS-CoV-2 May be Viable on Surfaces for up to 28 Days at Room Temperature
The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.

October 26, 2020
Researchers Explore Smartwatch Data to Alert Users of Potential COVID-19 Infection
A September 2020 article in PLOS notes that most COVID-19 patients will eventually develop symptoms.

October 19, 2020
Winter Risks: Pandemic Fuels Increase in Outdoor Space Heater Use
Many cities have restricted restaurants to outdoor dining because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

October 19, 2020
Ransomware Attacks Continuing to Haunt Schools and Hospitals
Reports are continuing to surface that the acceleration of activities that shifted online in response to the COVID-19 outbreak is amplifying risks in the cyberspace.

October 19, 2020
'Take Home' COVID-19 Lawsuits Reportedly Beginning to Surface
An article from Reuters has indicated that “take home” lawsuits, which reportedly were filed relating to asbestos-related litigation in the past, are being used as part of litigation pertaining to COVID-19 fatalities and/or injuries.

October 12, 2020
Study: Wearing Masks May Assist Indoor Ventilation Systems to Disperse the Coronavirus
A recent study looked at indoor airflow generated by a building's ventilation system and how a person's breath moves within it: spoiler alert, masks seem to help steer particles away, which could mitigate viral exposure.

October 12, 2020
COVID-19 Testing Shortages Flaring Up with Little Reprieve in Sight
A September 2020 collaboration article from the National Institute of Health (NIH) suggests that widescale testing is a key tool that can be used to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

October 5, 2020
COVID-19 Virus Droplets and Aerosol Particles May Not Technically Be Airborne Transmission
Disease experts reportedly would like to make a clear distinction between the COVID-19 virus and diseases traditionally considered airborne diseases, such as tuberculosis and the measles: in other words, COVID-19 does not transmit in the same way.

October 5, 2020
Update: Mental Health During the Pandemic
October 10th is World Mental Health Day. According to the World Health Organization's press release, globally: one billion people live with a mental disorder, 3 million die annually from "harmful use of alcohol", every 40 seconds, someone dies by suicide.

October 5, 2020
Study: Substance Use Disorder Associated With Increased COVID-19 Risk
According to a 2018 U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), it is estimated that 1 in 5 people (over 50 million) aged 12 and over are past year users of illicit drugs in the U.S., with over 10 million considered misusers of opioids.

September 28, 2020
FBI and CISA Advisory: 'Vishing' Cyberattacks Have Increased in Recent Months
As a substantial number of people continue to work from home due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the cyber risk landscape has evolved.

September 28, 2020
Amid the Pandemic, Old Illicit Synthetic Opioid Returns With a Vengeance
Back in April 2020, we posted about statistics from a CDC analysis which mentioned that, while prescription-involved opioid overdose death rates dropped by 13.5% from 2017 to 2018, death rates involving synthetic opioids, had actually increased by 10%.

September 21, 2020
How Could Storefront Cameras Assist with Driver Safety in the Delivery Economy?
The COVID-19 crisis has facilitated an acceleration of at least two trends in the restaurant industry: an increase in food deliveries and the rapid construction of al fresco dining structures or areas in city and neighborhood streets.

September 21, 2020
The Latest on COVID-19's Impacts on the Cannabis Market
In the past year, we have posted how, despite various states legalizing marijuana in some capacity, the marijuana black market has continued to contribute to different issues, such as the distribution of potentially harmful vaping products and major explosions through illegal extraction processes.

September 21, 2020
Data Shows Urban-Suburban Home Sales Similar to Pre-Pandemic Market
Are the populations of U.S. cities shrinking because of the pandemic? Apparently, some data says not really.

September 14, 2020
Update: Publicly Available Datasets Combat COVID-19
Back in May 2020, we posted about some preliminary attempts at using artificial intelligence systems (AI) to assist healthcare experts during the pandemic.

September 14, 2020
The Latest COVID-19 Health Concern Goes to the Heart
According to Mayo Clinic, “Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium).

September 8, 2020
The Latest on Water-Related Risks as Buildings - Including Schools - Reopen
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Legionnaires’ Disease “is a serious type of pneumonia (lung infection) caused by Legionella bacteria.”

August 31, 2020
Transition Risks Become a Reality in California During Massive Heat Wave
The world’s collective numbness to startling 2020 developments was tested once again in August with California’s issuance of the first ever fire tornado warning, as well as rolling blackouts imposed across the state that hadn’t been experienced since 2001.

August 31, 2020
Study: 'Aerosolized Fomites' Such as Dust May be Able to Spread Influenza
The ISO Emerging Issues team has been monitoring various COVID-19 virus studies that examine the potential for the virus to travel and perhaps linger in the air.

August 31, 2020
Physical Virus Overshadows Cyber Risks That May Loom for Schools This Year
This time last year, when things were simpler, cyber risks were drawing many of the headlines as schools were poised to begin.

August 31, 2020
COVID-19 Risks May Increase with Vaping: How Will Schools Respond?
Middle schools, high schools and colleges that are reopening during the pandemic crisis may need to include addressing student vaping in their plans because a new study shows an association between vaping and an increase in COVID-19 diagnosis.

August 24, 2020
CDC Releases Report on Summer Camp COVID-19 Outbreak
We recently posted about a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that suggested, in part, that children aged 0-9 might be less likely to transmit the COVID-19 virus than adults.

August 24, 2020
As Telehealth Use Rises, So Do Considerations for its Users
The New York Times has reported that the COVID-19 crisis is interfering with activities to limit the spread of more familiar diseases, such as Tuberculosis (TB), H.I.V. and malaria.

August 17, 2020
COVID-19 Efforts May Lead to the Spread of Other Fatal Diseases
The New York Times has reported that the COVID-19 crisis is interfering with activities to limit the spread of more familiar diseases, such as Tuberculosis (TB), H.I.V. and malaria.

August 17, 2020
Human Inactivity During COVID-19 Helps Seismologists
The COVID-19 crisis hushed noise from human activity so much during the height of shutdowns and social distancing that seismologists believed that they could hear the rumblings of Mother Earth with more effectiveness, according to an article in Science Daily.

August 17, 2020
Can Distribution Disrupt Future COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Chains?
We recently posted about ongoing COVID-19 vaccine trials and some concerns that might arise regarding how it will affect the elderly population, distribution logistics, and possible public distrust.

August 17, 2020
Report: Drug Deaths Up 13% From This Time in 2019
This past March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an analysis of data produced by 39 U.S. states and jurisdictions from 2017-2018.

August 10, 2020
Why Have Flu Cases in the Southern Hemisphere Dropped So Dramatically in 2020?
Back in May, we posted about the close watch being kept on the Southern Hemisphere and how their influenza season would develop in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.

August 10, 2020
Report: ADA-related Website Accessibility Lawsuits Stay Flat in 2019
The law firm Seyfarth has reported on their analysis of lawsuits filed in federal court related to website accessibility from 2017-2019.

August 3, 2020
Actually, It Can Happen To Us: The Big One… Hits New York?
Experience can sometimes be the best teacher. While COVID-19 remains a threat for today, the catastrophic impacts that it has wrought may serve as a risk management lesson in the years to come.

August 3, 2020
What Are Some Risks Involved with Distilleries Selling Hand Sanitizer?
In March, when it became apparent that hand sanitizer demand would outpace supply, distilleries across the United States began to use their onsite resources to make up for this gap and manufacture hand sanitizer.

August 3, 2020
What are Key Considerations as COVID-19 Vaccine Development Enters Into the Stretch Run?
It would be an understatement to say that the stakes for developing a COVID-19 vaccine are quite high.

August 3, 2020
COVID-19 Study Reveals Kids Under 10 May Transmit Virus Less than Adults
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published an early release article describing a COVID-19 study conducted in South Korea that used detailed contact tracing and examined age ranges from 0 to 80.

August 3, 2020
Business Burglaries, Car Thefts Increase During COVID-19 Crisis
NPR has reported that, with a drop in general activities such as commuting, driving, and walking in communities during the COVID-19 crisis, there has also been a dramatic drop in crime in more than 25 cities in the U.S.

July 27, 2020
20-28 Million People Face Evictions Amid COVID-19 Crisis
A CNBC interview with an expert on evictions and one of the creators of the COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard with the Eviction Lab at Princeton University has yielded some interesting findings.

July 27, 2020
Scientists Point to Different Societal Factors That May Continue to Increase the Risk of Zoonotic Disease Emergence
Zoonotic diseases (zoonoses), according to the United Nations (UN) Environment Program, are “illnesses caused by pathogens that spread from animals to people and from people to animals.”

July 20, 2020
Aerosol Transmission of the COVID-19 Virus Concerns Linger
Some very small things are apparently a very big deal to a growing number of disease experts around the world.

July 20, 2020
Use of Robotics on Farms May be Poised to Increase
From rampant outbreaks among farmers to significant disruptions in the distribution process, U.S. farms have hardly been immune to the impacts of COVID-19.

July 13, 2020
Actually, It Can Happen to Us: Solar Storms
20 million U.S. jobs wiped out in March and April. TSA screenings in April 2020 (around 3.1 million) roughly 4% of what they were in April 2019 (nearly 67.6 million).

July 13, 2020
Rental E-scooters to Roll in NYC and UK
Major e-scooter companies, such as Lime and Bird, have been having a tough time during the COVID-19 crisis, with demand for rentals dropping by almost 100% in some places, according to The Verge.

July 13, 2020
More Exposures from Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells Come Into Focus
In recent years, the increasing number of abandoned oil and gas wells have reportedly corresponded with heightened concerns pertaining to a slew of environmental issues.

June 29, 2020
Indoor Airflow Model May Help Mitigate SARS-CoV-2 Laden Aerosols
Combating airborne viruses indoors may have gotten a bit easier.

June 29, 2020
COVID-19 Outbreak Serving as Additional Motivation to Develop Universal Flu Vaccine
Much attention has been paid to the race to develop a vaccine that could neutralize COVID-19.

June 22, 2020
Drones: Updates on Use Cases During COVID-19 and FAA Approvals
Back in April, we posted about the principle that emergencies don’t necessarily create change in the world, but rather accelerate changes that were already underway.

June 22, 2020
Stay-At-Home Guidelines Steers Attention to Indoor Air Pollution Risks
One of the few welcomed byproducts of COVID-19 confining people around the world to their homes was a significant drop in outdoor air pollution.

June 15, 2020
Reports: CBD is Being Prematurely Marketed as a COVID-19 Treatment
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid compound found in marijuana and hemp with apparent therapeutic effects.

June 15, 2020
COVID-19 Threatens Farm Workers at Harvest Season
Harvest season is arriving in many countries that are embattled with the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 15, 2020
COVID-19 Delays Could Jeopardize Construction Projects Designed to Protect Against Climate Change
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) website includes information indicating the decline in revenue that U.S. states may experience as a result of COVID-19.

June 15, 2020
COVID-19 Concerns May Push Some Back to Car Ownership
Can't take the train or bus or rideshare or rental car or rental e-scooter because of the COVID-19 crisis?

June 11, 2020
Information Emergence Lag and Wrong Signaling – Going Viral
(from Actuarial)
One of the problems with reopening under COVID-19 is that we only see the impact of our behavior a couple of weeks later.

June 8, 2020
Autonomous Vehicles: COVID-19 Crisis Producing Mixed Results
At the outset of the COVID-19 crisis, there appeared to be at least two trains of thought regarding how the trajectory of autonomous vehicle deployment may be affected by the pandemic.

June 8, 2020
FDA Holds Virtual Townhall on 3D Printed Nasal Swabs
3D Printing, or additive manufacturing, is generally a production technology that can produce actual components, parts, and products from a digital image blueprint.

June 1, 2020
What Could the Future of Food Production and Distribution Look Like?
Through the lens of technological developments, it could be argued that the 2010s was the decade of convenience and leisure.

June 1, 2020
Update on E-scooters During the COVID-19 Crisis
Pre-COVID-19, all the way back in 2019, The Verge indicated that hopping on an e-scooter wasn't always harmless fun: for example, over the course of a nearly three-month study in Austin, Texas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified 271 people that sustained scooter-related injuries.

June 1, 2020
Head Injuries: The COVID-19 Crisis Could have a Significant Impact on Football Participation in Years to Come
As many Americans are confined to their homes during the COVID-19 outbreak, avid sports fans around the country are wondering if they will be watching sports on television in 2020.

June 1, 2020
COVID-19: Drug Shortages are Becoming More Prominent, and There Appears to be No Quick Fix
Even prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, reports had been surfacing about the complications resulting from the complex supply chain that is involved in developing pharmaceutical drugs; especially with generics, which account for 90% of all prescriptions filled in the U.S., per CNN Business.

June 1, 2020
Researchers Investigate Aerosol Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Virus
Evidence is reportedly mounting that there is a risk that the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, may be transmitted through the air as an aerosol emitted from an infected person.

May 26, 2020
Cities Use Ridesharing to Handle Some Transit Routes During COVID-19 Crisis
The COVID-19 crisis lockdowns have prevented people from traveling far from their homes, which have impacted ridesharing services dramatically.

May 26, 2020
During Quarantine, Concerns of Domestic Gun Violence Rise
While a lack of public gatherings (schools, concerts, parties) certainly helps mitigate the possibility of mass shootings, gun violence still looms as an issue during COVID-19.

May 18, 2020
Various Guidelines Released for Post-COVID-19 Risk Management
Although the COVID-19 crisis continues to persist in some countries and cities, some buildings will be re-opened for certain businesses and schools as lockdowns are gradually lifted.

May 18, 2020
COVID-19: What Will Urban Transportation Look Like in the Year to Come?
For the duration of the COVID-19 crisis, news reports and visuals coming from China and Europe effectively represented a peek into a time portal for anxious U.S. businesses and residents.

May 18, 2020
How Will the Next Influenza Season Affect—and be Affected—by COVID-19?
Axios has reported on another COVID-19 consideration that could potentially grow more relevant as 2020 eventually winds down: flu season.

May 11, 2020
Diving into the Food Supply Chain: Why Has COVID-19 Led to Various Issues in U.S.?
As COVID-19 emerged into a generational pandemic, supply chains that chugged along and kept the global machine going in relative obscurity were suddenly thrust into the spotlight.

May 11, 2020
Artificial Intelligence Tools Being Used to Assist Healthcare Facilities with COVID-19
If necessity is the mother of invention, then many artificial intelligence tools may very well be borne out of this COVID-19 crisis.

May 11, 2020
COVID-19 Crisis Highlights Drone Capabilities
During the COVID-19 crisis, there have been various reports of drone use to assist in remote regions.

May 11, 2020
Updates in Alternative Energy: Microgrids, Nuclear Fusion, Energy Use Trends During COVID-19
Wired has reported on an ongoing electricity experiment in a small Colorado town that could have large implications for how energy is produced and consumed.

May 11, 2020
FDA Extends E-cigarette Premarket Review Deadline Due to COVID-19 Crisis
Back in 2019, The Hill reported that a federal judge had “ordered the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to speed up its reviews of thousands of electronic cigarettes currently on the market.”

May 4, 2020
The Recycling Industry May be at a Crossroads
The recycling landscape shifted significantly, per Wired, in January 2018 when China stopped accepting two dozen types of recycling materials (including paper and plastic).

May 4, 2020
Norovirus News: $25M Hot Food Fine; Frozen Fruit Also Found Guilty
As WGN9 News noted, we are not hearing about COVID-19 warnings related to food because the virus that causes it, SARS-CoV-2, cannot survive our stomach acid.

May 4, 2020
Plumbing Concerns When Buildings Re-open Post-COVID-19
In 2019, Citylab explained that cities in the U.S. with shrinking populations have experienced poor water quality because of underutilization and underfunding of the drinking water infrastructure.

April 30, 2020
Rethinking Risk: The Potential Impacts for Personal and Commercial Lines Loss Costs
(from Visualize)
With much of the country staying at home and closed for business due to COVID-19, a substantial portion of the economy has nearly ground to a halt.

April 27, 2020
Getting Ready for a Restart: Managing Business Risks in a COVID-19 World
(from Visualize)
Here's a roadmap for how businesses can safely reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 27, 2020
Air Pollution Comes Under COVID-19 Spotlight
While smoking both conventional cigarettes and vaping devices have reportedly been linked to greater health issues for those who are inflicted with COVID-19, another “silent killer” has now been said to potentially have negative effects: air pollution.

April 27, 2020
3D Printing PPE Concerns During the COVID-19 Crisis
There have been reports that 3D Printing technology is being used to develop components that are vital for the production of crucial medical equipment, such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), during the COVID-19 outbreak.

April 27, 2020
How is COVID-19 Impacting the Cannabis Industry?
Cannabis is a subject the ISO Emerging Issues team has been keeping tabs on for several years as legalization continues to steadily progress through many states in the United States, and abroad.

April 27, 2020
FBI Warns About Cryptocurrency and Other Scams During COVID-19 Crisis
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a press release regarding cryptocurrency scams related to the COVID-19 outbreak that may occur via online accounts and via the "thousands" of globally located cryptocurrency kiosks.

April 20, 2020
Ransomware Threats Against Healthcare During COVID-19 Crisis
INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization) has reported on an increase in ransomware threats against healthcare providers during the COVID-19 crisis.

April 20, 2020
Opioid Updates: CDC Report, COVID-19 Impacts, and Illicit Market Status
This past March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an analysis of data produced by 39 U.S. states and jurisdictions from 2017-2018.

April 20, 2020
Frequency and Severity: What Impacts Does Smoking Have on COVID-19?
Frequency and severity are two popular terms in the insurance universe. Below are multiple examples of how smoking—through both traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes—may increase the frequency and severity of COVID-19.

April 20, 2020
Distribution of Counterfeit Medical Goods are Surging Amid Equipment Shortage
With a reported shortage in masks and other accessories that could help reduce the spread of COVID-19, it appears that scams to exploit this gap in supply are proliferating.

April 20, 2020
How the COVID-19 Crisis May Affect Weather Data
During the COVID-19 crisis, experts (including Verisk's AIR) have been forecasting the geographic spread of the virus and the number of hospitalizations from this unfortunate event.

April 20, 2020
California Allows Nuro to Test AV Delivery Without a Driver
The World Economic Forum (WEF) notes that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as other government agencies around the world, have been advocating for social distancing to help prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

April 14, 2020
Will Fewer Drivers on the Road Mean Lower Auto Losses? It Depends
(from Visualize)
Staying at home and closing nonessential businesses during the COVID-19 crisis has resulted in one major benefit for people who still need to drive their vehicles: fewer cars on the road.

April 13, 2020
Various Buildings Converted for COVID-19 Patients
To handle the overwhelming number of COVID-19 patients and forecasts for hospital beds, buildings in many impacted areas are reportedly being converted into hospital-like facilities.

April 13, 2020
Report: Cyber Criminals Targeting Long-Term Strategy to Exploit COVID-19 Vulnerabilities
The COVID-19 outbreak has generated a plethora of concerns, and cybersecurity appears to be no exception.

April 13, 2020
Municipal Wastewater May Contain COVID-19 Clues
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) both stress that the main path of the novel coronavirus transmission is via respiratory droplets, some researchers are looking at the outbreak from a gastrointestinal angle

April 13, 2020
COVID-19 Puts Stress on Wildfire Preparations for Upcoming Season
Hellacious wildfire seasons in 2017 and 2018 shook up the landscape of California wildfire management. In response, the governor of California announced that $1 billion would be invested over a five-year span of forestland management.

April 13, 2020
How Will Innovation Shape the World After COVID-19?
The sheer velocity in which COVID-19 has upended the way of life for hundreds of millions—if not billions—of people may serve as a deterrent to try and process what the world will look like in a month.

April 9, 2020
The delivery economy: New coverages for drivers and businesses during COVID-19
(from Visualize)
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rapid shift in some quarters of the commercial sector regarding deliveries.

April 7, 2020
Addressing the Challenges of COVID-19: From Underwriting to Claims
(from Visualize)
The COVID-19 pandemic is creating new challenges for property/casualty insurers and policyholders across both personal and commercial lines.

April 6, 2020
Sanitizer Supply Chain Gets a Hand from Liquor Industry
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)has been advising the public to wash their hands with soap or to use sanitizer to prevent against becoming infected with COVID-19.

April 6, 2020
How is 3D Printing Assisting with Medical Equipment Shortages?
While various supply chain issues are reportedly causing issues for a wide range of industries, the inability for hospitals to procure the appropriate equipment could have the most harrowing impacts.

April 6, 2020
Researchers Explore Complex Pandemic Models Based on Social Contagion Patterns
Science Daily has reported that researchers from University of Vermont, Northeastern University, and the University of Michigan have been considering newer, more complex pandemic modeling after identifying similar patterns in both biologic and social contagions.

March 30, 2020
COVID-19 Tests Telehealth and the Internet
The global spread of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, appears to call attention to an increased need for virtual medical visits (telemedicine or telehealth), as well as increased dependency on the internet needed for that service: remote working, e-learning and streaming entertainment (videos and gaming).

March 30, 2020
Hospitals Face Equipment Shortage as COVID-19 Cases Continue to Surge
In the summer of 2019, a story published by Wired estimated that only 5% of the nearly 230 million surgical masks and 30% of approximately 20 million respirators purchased by American health care are manufactured in the United States.

March 30, 2020
Examining How COVID-19 Could Impact Auto Parts Supply Chain
In addition to health risks, there are a wide range of potential supply chain impacts that may topple because of the continued spread of novel coronavirus.

March 23, 2020
Sharing Economy Reacts to COVID-19 Outbreak
Ridesharing, home sharing and the gig economy industries are all reportedly concerned with the COVID-19 outbreak, with some already being impacted by it, and others preparing for it.

March 23, 2020
Companies May Face Increased Cyber Risk During COVID-19 Outbreak
Lexology has reported about a potential increase in cyber risk for some companies that resort to having more staff work remotely during the COVID-19 outbreak to mitigate possible infections.

March 23, 2020
How is Genomics Being Used to Contain Coronavirus Spread?
In lieu of a COVID-19 vaccine that, according to the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will take “at least a year and a half” to be ready for use, other efforts are reportedly being made to contain the spread of coronavirus.

March 23, 2020
Societal Trends Have–and May Continue to–Heighten Pandemic Risk
The impacts from coronavirus have reverberated throughout society. As countries and cities across the globe reportedly scramble to simultaneously contain the virus and mitigate disruptions, a question looms for if, and when, the fallout from coronavirus and its associated disease, COVID-19, is eventually managed: What if this happens again?

March 16, 2020
EPA Releases List of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Surface Disinfectants
As the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) explains, SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease. The CDC notes that transmission of the virus is mainly airborne from person to person.

March 16, 2020
COVID-19 Concerns Cancel and Postpone Conferences Worldwide
Wall Street Journal has reported that businesses conferences around the world have been forced to cancel or postpone due to concerns related to the novel coronavirus.

March 9, 2020
How Some Markets May be Disrupted by COVID-19 Outbreak
This post examines the potential impacts that various markets may experience as novel coronavirus continues to spread.

March 9, 2020
Telemedicine Being Deployed in Response to Coronavirus Spread
Mobihealthnews has reported on a series of technological developments, such as telemedicine and 5G, that are being incorporated into the diagnosis of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

March 2, 2020
China's Coronavirus App Determines if User Has Been Near Infected Individuals
What if your smartphone could warn you that you've been near a person with a contagious disease? That's more or less the app that BBC has reported that China has released to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2).

February 24, 2020
Novel Coronavirus Disrupts Some Global Businesses
The New York Times has reported that not only have many industries in China been closed to help mitigate the coronavirus outbreak (possibly until March 1st 2020, per The Verge), but many global companies have been compelled to make business decisions related to the outbreak, and some expect negative financial impacts.

February 24, 2020
Why the WHO is Concerned about Social Media's Role With the Spread of Coronavirus
If you are a reader who resides in the Northeast, perhaps there have been occasions in which snowy weather has forced you to stay inside for a day, if not multiple days.

February 18, 2020
Coronavirus: Various Supply Chain Concerns Come Into Focus
With the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring in January that coronavirus had emerged into a global emergency, the supply chain is one of several areas of focus to consider.