Can coronaviruses be transmitted via banknotes?
When possible I avoid paying by cash and use contactless payments as much as I can, especially as of late. However, some outlets won't take card payments so cash exchange is inevitable.
I am worried about the potential that coronaviruses may have to survive for relatively long periods of time (days) on banknotes. Obviously I am thinking specifically about the COVID-19 infection given its current quasi-pandemic status but, despite the many news articles, I do not believe there are studies that have zeroed in on it yet.
I have found the following studies:
Survival of Influenza Virus on Banknotes
Paper Money and Coins as Potential Vectors of Transmissible Disease
Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and
their inactivation with biocidal agents
Filthy lucre: A metagenomic pilot study of microbes found on circulating currency in New York City
The first is a study about influenza viruses and not coronaviruses.
The second article mentions coronaviruses only once but they are not the subject of the study.
The third study is recent (mentions SARS-CoV-2) and is about coronaviruses, but it deals with other inanimate surfaces, especially stainless steel, and does not mention money or banknotes.
The fourth study is a pilot, which deals specifically with banknotes (US dollars) but, since both samples in the study returned a low viral count ("In both sets the number of archaeal and viral sequences detected was low (< 1%), and were not analyzed further.") they did not drill down into specifics.
I am more worried about paper money and less worried about coins, as coins can easily be wiped with a disinfectant which can effectively kill viruses.
The specific question I have:
Can coronaviruses survive in sufficient concentration (sufficient means enough to enable it to reach the respiratory tract via finger contamination) on banknotes, and for how long?
I am not looking for news articles, even if they come from reputable sources (such as The Guardian, BBC, CNN, etc.). I am after studies that demonstrate virus survival rates.
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In short, studies have not been done on banknotes, but WHO and the US CDC estimate that the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) may survive on surfaces for hours to several days and say that the transmission via surfaces is unlikely and has not been proven so far.
The US Center of Disease Control and Prevention, as of March 3, 2020 says:
...transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to persons from surfaces contaminated
with the virus has not been documented.
Current evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may remain viable for
hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials.
World Health Organization says:
It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on
surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses. Studies
suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the
COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to
several days. This may vary under different conditions (e.g. type of
surface, temperature or humidity of the environment).
If you think a surface may be infected, clean it with simple
disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. Clean
your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and
water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.
and on another page:
Even though the new coronavirus can stay on surfaces for a few hours
or up to several days (depending on the type of surface), it is very
unlikely that the virus will persist on a surface after it has been
moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and
temperatures.
and:
Is it safe to receive a package from any area where COVID-19 has been
reported?
Yes. The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial
goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19
from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to
different conditions and temperature is also low.
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