COVID-19: Could cash be helping to spread the coronavirus?

[webfact]

COVID-19: Could cash be helping to spread the coronavirus?

 

FILE PHOTO: Euro, Hong Kong dollar, U.S. dollar, Japanese yen, pound and Chinese 100 yuan banknotes are seen in this picture illustration, January 21, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Lee/Illustration/File Photo - RC18E6C85080

 

After one of Thailand’s leading banks closed all of its foreign exchange booths as a preventive measure against COVID-19, there have been concerns whether handling cash can contribute to the spread of the virus.

 

In China, the epicenter of the outbreak, banks last month were disinfecting banknotes with ultraviolet light or high temperatures. 

 

In South Korea, banks have also been disinfecting and isolating used banknotes as part of efforts to stem the spread of the deadly virus. While in the USA, the Federal Reserve has been quarantining cash repatriated from Asia as a precautionary measure. 

 

In Thailand, cash has been quarantined and new ‘clean’ banknotes have been put into circulation in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. 

 

Despite reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged people to go cashless in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19, WHO hasn’t actually released any official statement saying people should avoid using cash. 

 

In a bid to bust myths surrounding COVID-19, WHO says the risk of infection from cash remains very low, with the UN agency reiterating the importance of people regularly washing their hands with soap and water and using hand sanitizer.

 

 

Medical professionals have said that coronavirus and other respiratory viruses such as flu only leads to infection when transferred from your hands to places like your mouth, eyes and nose. 

 

Furthermore, if you have dirty hands and still touch your phone or card to send a cashless payment, you are still potentially susceptible to infection. 

 

It is also important to remember that at the best of times, cash is absolutely filthy. 

 

It is covered in germs, and all manner of bacteria and viruses. And depending on where you live, it is also highly like that almost all the cash you handle has traces of cocaine or narcotics. 

 

For more information regarding other myths surrounding COVID-19 such as eating garlic and taking a hot bath being possible cures, take a look at the Myth Busters section of the World Health Organisation website.

 

For information on how to protect yourself from COVID-19 at home and when travelling, watch the videos below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-03-11

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[keith101]

Experts say this virus can survive on surfaces for many days so i believe the answer is yes and we all handle money almost on a daily basis .

[Vacuum]

Could be a 'trick' for a faster move to a cahless society? 

[cmsally]

There will be people just itching to use this as an excuse to hasten the move to a cashless society.

 

[Sharp]

Spot on Vacuum!! 

Now we are starting to see the controlling measures being rolled out behind the scenes. 

Check out Spiro twitter feed 

CASH IS DEAD 

[scubascuba3]

No choice but to use cash with street vendors or in a market. Its very hard to avoid touching things i.e.

-anything bought from supermarkets

- plates and cutlery at restaurants

- drinks in bars

- anything from 7 Eleven etc.

 

in an outbreak it will be impossible to avoid

[Dmaxdan]

31 minutes ago, webfact said:

It is also important to remember that at the best of times, cash is absolutely filthy. 

Cue the money laundering jokes...

[glennb6]

first they came for our plastic bags, then they came for our cash....

 

hey, physical CASH accounts for about 10% of money used worldwide. thailand, I don't know but from daily life it's probably 50% or more.

[rkidlad]

Cash is pretty filthy. I've witnessed food vendors wearing plastic gloves while preparing food and then handling cash with the same gloves. The same goes for people wearing masks. Cashiers and members of the public handling money and then touching their masks or faces. It's very hard not to touch things in these situations. Just make sure you're washing your hands often and try not to touch your face. 

 

Whenever I have to use cash I'm washing my hands after. Same goes for phones. Many people touching their phones and then touching cash and surfaces, etc. 

[jollyhangmon]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

For more information regarding other myths surrounding COVID-19 such as eating garlic and taking a hot bath being possible cures

 

... do not disregard garlic that fast, if you eat plenty it should keep all them superspreaders at a safe distance ... take into account their peaks might be clogged so you really got to up the dosage here ...

 

Plus of course it helps against fn vampires too ...

 

 

[Topdoc]

If only the bankers hadn't been soooooo greedy, we would still all be using virus and bacteria free silver coins

[RichardColeman]

If anyone would like to give me their spare cash because they are worried about it, feel free. All nominations and currencies accepted

[Krataiboy]

5 hours ago, cmsally said:

There will be people just itching to use this as an excuse to hasten the move to a cashless society.

 

Sounds like a good idea to me. Give all our cash to the banks and let the virus kill off the architects of all our economic woes.

 

(Only joking).

[lamyai3]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

In Thailand, cash has been quarantined and new ‘clean’ banknotes have been put into circulation in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. 

Surely as soon as they're in circulation they're no longer clean?

[Fex Bluse]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

COVID-19: Could cash be helping to spread the coronavirus?

Yes but only nasty foreigner cash.

 

Thai cash not same same 

[piewarmer]

Breathing is the easiest way to get infected, the masks are basically useless but do catch sneezes

if you are unhealthy already it could be a big ploblem. You are much more likely to get Dengue fever here anyway

I'm not trying to downplay the beer cold but there's bigger dangers. good luck to all.