Coronavirus Outbreak: China cleans, locks away banknotes to stop virus spread

Date:

Trending

China is disinfecting and isolating used banknotes as part of efforts to stop the spread of the new coronavirus that has killed more than 1,500 people, officials said Saturday.

- Advertisement -

Banks use ultraviolet light or high temperatures to disinfect yuan bills, then seal and store the cash for seven to 14 days — depending on the severity of the outbreak in a particular region — before recirculating them, China’s central bank said at a press conference.

The virus, which has infected more than 66,000 people in China and spread to more than two dozen other countries, has sparked a rush to disinfect public places and minimise contact between people.

- Advertisement -

Pharmacies across the country sold out of disinfectants and surgical masks in just days after a lockdown was announced in late January on Wuhan city, where the COVID-19 illness is believed to have emerged.

Office buildings have installed packets of tissue in elevators that tenants are encouraged to use when pressing buttons, while ride-hailing company Didi exhorts drivers to disinfect their cars daily.

Fan Yifei, deputy governor of China’s central bank, said Saturday that banks have been urged to provide new banknotes to customers whenever possible.

The central bank made an “emergency issuance” of four billion yuan in new notes to Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, prior to the recent Lunar New Year holiday, Fan added.

The measures are intended to “secure the public’s safety and health when using cash”, Fan said.

But it is unclear how wide an impact the central bank’s disinfection work will have, with increasing numbers of Chinese people preferring mobile payments over cash in recent years.

In 2017, nearly three quarters of Chinese respondents told an Ipsos survey they could survive a whole month without using more than 100 yuan in cash.

According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 can be spread through contaminated objects in addition to droplets and direct contact with infected patients.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

THE SNAPSHOTS

Sign up to get quick snaps of everyday happening, directly in your inbox.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

- Advertisement -

Support our independent journalism PayPal (Outside India) For PayU (For Indian Readers).

Krishna Mali
Krishna Mali
Founder & Group Editor of TechGraph.

More Latest Stories

More Articles

What to Consider When Choosing a Car Battery Repair Shop

When faced with car battery issues, finding the right repair shop becomes necessary. Given the central role a battery plays in the functionality of...

Fintevex Overview: What Traders Need to Know in 2025

In 2025, the trading world is more competitive than ever. With hundreds of platforms fighting for attention, each promising tighter spreads, smarter tools, and faster execution it’s become harder for traders to know which platforms genuinely deliver and which are just noise. This landscape has...

Lexus CarPlay and Android Auto Integration

In the ever-evolving landscape of automotive connectivity, Lexus CarPlay and Android Auto integration have...

Sifx trading platform: What Traders Looking to Profit Should Really Know

sifx.com is an online trading broker that provides access to multiple global markets through...
00:01:49

Trump Claims U.S. Trade Threat Helped Defuse India-Pakistan Ceasefire

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration played a key role in...

Operation Sindoor: India, Pakistan Agree to Ceasefire After High-Level Military Talks

India and Pakistan agreed on Saturday to halt all military activities across land, air,...

The Future of B2B Commerce: E-commerce Platforms and Beyond

The way companies buy items and sell services has changed a lot from the...

No OTPs, No Hassles: The Rise of Passwordless Digital Payments

India is pacing toward a passwordless future in the digital payments ecosystem. Technologically, it’s...

Kriscore Capital Launches ₹100 Cr Fund to Back Early-Stage Indian Tech Startups

Kriscore Capital, a newly launched venture firm focused on early-stage Indian technology startups, has announced the first close of its debut ₹100 crore fund. An...

Why Crypto Traders Are Flocking to Cap-tex Now

A recent surge in cryptocurrency prices, driven by global economic shifts and high-profile endorsements,...

How AI-Powered Online Platforms Are Revolutionizing Life Insurance Recommendations

Anyone with a child, a spouse, a life partner, or a parent as a...

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai Increases Stocks Holdings Amid Dividend Adjustment

According to a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Alphabet...

From Arcade to Adventure – The Evolving Face of Entertainment and Why It Counts

Entertainment has always been a reflection of the shifting expectations of society. Earlier, people...

How Technology Helps Combat Various Viruses and Diseases

Technology has transformed the ways we approach vaccines, particularly for the flu. One noteworthy development is the precision in matching flu vaccines to the...

12 Eye-Popping Hacks to Make Your Next Business Presentation Sparkle

Business presentations are often necessary to gain new clients and showcase what it is you can offer, but more often than not, they end up being a bit dull, right? Well, if you read on, soon that will not be the case for your...

The Long-Term Power of Investing: Selecting Undervalued Industries

Investing can seem overwhelming, especially for beginners, as the numerous options and strategies available...

The Impact of EdTech on Student Outcomes in Higher Education

The introduction of interactive whiteboards in the early 1990s marked a major shift in...

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Using Fonts in Your Design Projects

Fonts play a crucial role in every design project, from branding and web design...

Predictive Analytics: The Key to Supply Chain Resilience

In today’s interconnected global economy, supply chains are the lifeblood of businesses, weaving intricate...

Empowering Growth: Boosting the Robotics Sector with Targeted Support

India's robotics sector is emerging as a key area of technological progress, driving innovation...

Software and Technology Changing the Industry

The advent of software and technological advancements has been a game-changer across various industries....

Alphabet COA Amie Thuener O’Toole Increases Stock Holdings

In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ...

Elon Musk’s X Sues Indian Govt Over Content Regulation Clash

X Corp, an Elon Musk-owned social media firm, sued the Indian government in the...

Interview: Vserve CEO Siva Balakrishnan on SEO Secrets for Amazon Seller Success

In an interview with TechGraph, Siva Balakrishnan, CEO and Founder of Vserve, shared how...

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai Increases Stocks Holdings Amid Dividend Adjustment

According to a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Alphabet...

Meta Legal Head Offloads Shares worth $577K

Meta Platforms Inc.’s (NASDAQ: META) Chief Legal Officer, Jennifer Newstead, has sold 921 shares,...

Shell Executive Robin Mooldijk Sells €1.69 Mn in Shares

Shell plc’s Projects & Technology Director, Robin Mooldijk, has offloaded 50,000 shares in the...

BGC Group raises $700 Mn in bond sale to refinance debt

BGC Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BGC) has finalized a $700 million private offering of senior...

Alphabet Legal Chief John Kent Walker to Sell $2Mn in Shares via Morgan Stanley

Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Chief Legal Officer, John Kent Walker Jr., has filed to...

From Arcade to Adventure – The Evolving Face of Entertainment and Why It Counts

Entertainment has always been a reflection of the shifting expectations of society. Earlier, people...

Elon Musk’s X Sues Indian Govt Over Content Regulation Clash

X Corp, an Elon Musk-owned social media firm, sued the Indian government in the...

Why Smart Cities Are the Future of Water Conservation

Water conservation has become an important factor due to climate change and worsened water...

Interview: Vserve CEO Siva Balakrishnan on SEO Secrets for Amazon Seller Success

In an interview with TechGraph, Siva Balakrishnan, CEO and Founder of Vserve, shared how...