In 2006, a few years after the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) outbreak in 2003 - which cost insurers billions in losses - the Insurance Services Office (ISO) added form CP 01 40 07 06 | EXCLUSION OF LOSS DUE TO VIRUS OR BACTERIA to most commercial property policies (most insurers use standard ISO policy forms) and it states (highlighting is ours):
A. The exclusion set forth in Paragraph B. applies to all coverage under all forms and endorsements that comprise this Coverage Part or Policy, including but not limited to forms or endorsements that cover property damage to buildings or personal property and forms or endorsements that cover business income, extra expense or action of civil authority.
B. We will not pay for loss or damage caused by or resulting from any virus, bacterium or other microorganism that induces or is capable of inducing physical distress, illness or disease. However, this exclusion does not apply to loss or damage caused by or resulting from "fungus", wet rot or dry rot. Such loss or damage is addressed in a separate exclusion in this Coverage Part or Policy.
C. With respect to any loss or damage subject to the exclusion in Paragraph B., such exclusion supersedes any exclusion relating to "pollutants".
D. The following provisions in this Coverage Part or Policy are hereby amended to remove reference to bacteria:
Exclusion of "Fungus", Wet Rot, Dry Rot And Bacteria; and
Additional Coverage – Limited Coverage for "Fungus", Wet Rot, Dry Rot And Bacteria, including any endorsement increasing the scope or amount of coverage.
E. The terms of the exclusion in Paragraph B., or the inapplicability of this exclusion to a particular loss, do not serve to create coverage for any loss that would otherwise be excluded under this Coverage Part or Policy.