From 29 February 2020 Covid-19 has been listed as a notifiable disease in Northern Ireland. Since then, the severe impact of Covid-19 has been felt by businesses across Northern Ireland as they deal with the government and public health guidelines, most notably in the hospitality, retail and tourism sectors.

Following a press conference on 16 March 2020, Boris Johnston urged the public to avoid all “non-essential” social contact. This guidance has had a significant impact on businesses, who should now examine their business interruption insurance policy wording to see if protection is offered within its policy at this unprecedented time.

While great care has been taken in the preparation of the content of this article, it does not purport to be a comprehensive statement of the relevant law and full professional advice should be taken before any action is taken in reliance on any item covered.