The paper attached doesnt mention currency notes but mentions paper, metal as inanimate objects that may carry the corona virus. Hope it is useful.

Many thanks for this interesting paper. It strengthens the case that there exists no evidence of coronavirus transmission person-banknote-person. Incidentally the 'paper' in this publication cannot be equalled to banknotes which are made of special materials like cotton 'paper' and polymers. I note also the important caveat (on p.250) " Data on the transmissibility of coronaviruses from contaminated surfaces to hands were not found." Finally it is normal practice that after handling money, one is advised to wash or desinfect hands. In conclusion there is only a vague theoretical transmissibility risk, which seems plausibly negligible compared to cashiers and other supermarket personnel not using face masks. Again, thanks for answering !

It is possible but transmission through cash is very rare.

Indeed Elvis, there seems to exist extremely little experimental data on cash-money involvement as a vector of coronaviral transmission, but what you say is entirely logical and at the very least is the more probable null-hypothesis. Any proponents of banning cash payments during a pandemia need to scientifically support their dubious claims. After all, excluding the most vulnerable social cohorts of human society (i.e. elderly, destitute, credit-less individuals, etc.) who do not have access to e-payment cards, blocking them from buying groceries because they only can pay with cash, is utterly unacceptable. However I am afraid that some big corporations might (ab)use the extreme fear generated by the covid-19 pandemia (and the MSM) to do exactly that: abolish cash payments now and in the future, based on fear not facts.

Last statement from ESTA: https://www.cls.ag/download/No_risk_of_contamination_with_COVID_19_on_banknotes.pdf

Many thanks to all who have replied ! Very useful indeed.

Hello,

seasonal flu appears every year, sometimes with new viral mutations. the anecdote is that we got used to this virus which can be fatal against immunocompromised people or the elderly.

It can happen the same way with coronavirus, gradually the world will forget the pandemic at the arrival of summer.

Thanks. What you indicate is most credible, logical and consistent with published information. Incidentally, in this particular supermarket scenario, both bank notes and coins are processed via a smart mechanical device which ensures personnel need not touch the money. Change is delivered same way. Unfortunately several other businesses in Belgium refuse all cash payments under SARS-CoV-2 transmission pretext, which is a highly discriminatory strategy because effectively blocking purchase of goods or services by the most vulnerable cohorts of society who can pay only in cash. In my view this is ethically unacceptable, and (see above) unsupported by current epidemiological evidence.

Market managers can reduce risks by providing disposable gloves to the cashiers, and instruct to disinfect regularly. Strange that some forget that cashiers also touch all the items people buy and have been manipulating just seconds before. So handling money is just one of the theoretical-only transmission risks.

Moreover, payment terminals are being touched (PIN code entering) by arguably the most contaminated cm2 of the human body, the tips of index fingers, and theoretically are a risk to customers, following market managers' criteria.

Finally, the WHO has not issued any warnings or statements about the use of cash.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/06/what-you-need-to-know-about-handling-cash-amid-coronavirus-spread-who.html