The Government has said essential businesses and those that support them will continue during the lockdown period.
Essential businesses are entities and their workers carrying out services that are considered essential. This also includes entities in their supply chains.
Financial services are listed as essential businesses and included in these is insurance. The definition therefore applies to insurers and any entity that contracts or provides services to them. Insurance brokers would fall within this definition.
Essential businesses will continue working but will put in place alternative ways of working to keep employees safe. Methods such as shift-based working, staggered meal breaks, flexible leave arrangements and physical distancing are suggested as ways to achieve this.
However, the best approach would appear to be arranging for staff to work from home, avoiding face to face contact other staff and clients.
Government is setting up a call centre and free 0800 number to help answer questions, their covid19 web site will be updated with details as soon as this is set up.
