Coronavirus can spread through cash: Report

SBI Research in its ‘Ecowrap’ report, has suggested the government to examine the possibility of using polymer currency notes, instead of paper currency notes to prevent the spread of novel Coronavirus through cash.

“Even if due precautions are taken, yet avoidance of cashusage cannot be avoided and as such it becomes one of the most easy carrier forspreading any virus. Therefore, immediate steps should be taken to checkspreading of any virus through currency notes,” said the report.

   

Notably, the report further says that countries like UK,Australia and Canada have switched to polymer notes to reduce the risk ofspreading infections through currency. Therefore, the possibilities of usage ofpolymer notes in India should also be examined.

However, for the time being, alternate mode of paymentsincluding digital payments should be encouraged, suggests the report.

The SBI Research report cited several research reportsshowing a connection of currency notes and microorganisms. It noted that areport by Confederation Of All India Traders (CAIT) had indicated that currencynotes carry micro-organisms that can cause diseases and infections.

“Experts have warned that several diseases, includingurinary and respiratory tract infections, skin infections and recurrentmeningitis, are being transmitted through currency notes. They can alsocontribute to causing septicaemia and toxic shock syndrome,” the report said.

It further noted: “As coronavirus is an infectious diseasewhich may spread by close contact of any person infected with such virus. Evidencessuggest that currency notes are a source of infection and dangerous to health,more so because many of the pathogens on them are multi-drug resistantstrains.”

Experts say that the virus can spread through currencynotes. Hence, it is better to switch to digital mode of transactions. But then,complete avoidance of cash in a country like India is probably not possible.Hence, there is a need for a safer alternative to paper currency notes.

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