Protecting consumer rights during a pandemic

COVID-19 has dramatically changed the world around us, and in an effort to limit the spread of the virus and safeguard public health, several industries have been significantly disrupted. On a local level, organised events, including all cultural, recreational and entertainment events and exhibitions in public or private places and inside places subject to a closure order have been suspended. This suspension and closure has created an unsettling confusion to arrangements made in advance by businesses and consumers alike. Unquestionably, most organisers have already forked out a substantial amount of money while consumers have probably secured their booking by means of a payment of deposit. This leaves both organisers and consumers in a state of uncertainty as to whether they would be refunded the monies forked out by them for such events and as to who has to assume responsibility for the cancellation of such events. One may want to look carefully at insurance policies potentially covering such disruptions. In this regard, on March 24, the MFSA issued a circular stating that it is currently working closely with authorised insurance companies to safeguard the interests of the...