Fear of paper dollars is now palpable in parts of the United States with coronavirus cases.
The signs began appearing around Seattle in the windows of Dick’s Drive-In, the city’s iconic burger chain: “In an abundance of caution, we ask you to please pay with credit or debit card if possible rather than cash.”And across the financial industry, a rigorous debate is brewing over how to address the public’s mounting concern that greenbacks might transmit COVID-19.
U.S. paper currency is made from 75% cotton and 25% linen, which makes the surface of bills coarse and fibrous. That allows germs to adhere more easily and survive longer than they can on smooth objects. “Digital payments are already viewed as good for society by governments because they help with financial inclusion, they drive tax revenue and eliminate corruption,” she said. “This is another reason: ‘Oh, and it’s hygienic too.’”
“Going cashless is definitely not something that we particularly support,” said Eric Espinoza, an associate director at Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners, which helps provide financial services to low-income communities. “We certainly wouldn’t support it under a hasty decision-making environment in which you’re extremely reactive and potentially not as thoughtful about the repercussions.”
Paper currency in the United States is made from 75% cotton and 25% linen, according to the Treasury. That makes the surface of bills coarse and fibrous, allowing germs to adhere more easily and survive longer than they can on smooth objects. Confronted with COVID-19, the People’s Bank of China began using ultraviolet light and high-temperature ovens to disinfect cash coming in. It has also replaced old notes with newly minted bills.
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