The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published a calculator to assist policyholders that need to prove the presence of COVID-19 within a specified distance from their premises in order to make a business interruption claim.

The calculator, which requires a policyholder to enter their address, distance covered by the policy and assessment date, produces a map with the business in the centre of a circle.

Estimated cases of COVID-19 in the calculated policy area are then provided using records of reported cases from the UK Government and estimated cases from Imperial College.

“If the calculator shows that there is one or more cases, you can use the report it produces to support your claim under your business interruption policy,” FCA says. “If your insurer is not asking for proof of COVID-19 within a distance of your premises, you do not need to use the calculator.”

FCA says the calculator is not designed to help businesses where the policy only covers disease “at the premises”.

The UK regulator released guidance last month on proving the presence of COVID-19 after a test case largely went in favour of policyholders. The guidance flagged that a separate calculator would also be released that policyholders could choose to use.