CASH SAFETY

Experts say there is little risk of Covid-19 being transmitted through banknotes and coins

Coronavirus is highly unlikely to be spread by handling notes and coins, biologists have said. Dr Christine Tait-Burkard, a fellow at the University of Edinburgh and an infection and immunity expert, said retailers should not block cash purchases on safety grounds. “Transmission via cash is very unlikely, unless someone coughed or sneezed on it shortly before handing it over to the cashier,” she said. Dr Tait-Burkard said that wearing masks in shops had reduced the risk, as there was no opportunity for shoppers to touch cash and then their mouth or nose. Peter McNamara of cash machine firm NoteMachine, who holds a degree in bacteriology from the University of Birmingham, called on card-only retailers to reverse their bans. “Despite scaremongering around cash, the risk of catching Covid-19 from cash has been proven to be incredibly low,” he said, adding that notes dispensed by a cash machine were effectively sterile as they had been quarantined for days. Adam Williams