COVID-19 shouldn't kill cash!

Of course, if cash is to remain a viable means of exchange, we need to know that it can be trusted in health terms. Can cash and coins make you sick?

The answer is: yes and no. According to Amesh A. Adalia, M.D., senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Centre for Health Security, "You can find any germs on money - anything that can be on your hand can be on money. [But] you have to draw a distinction between what you can culture off of a coin or bill versus what poses an infectious disease threat."

The fact that notes and coins carry germs doesn't mean those germs will make you sick when you encounter them on money. Flu viruses, for example, can survive on hard surfaces for 24 hours but they can only survive on surfaces like tissue for 15 minutes. On your hands, they survive for even less time.

Generally, unless you handle cash and then almost immediately put your hands in your mouth, you're unlikely to catch a cold or flu from money. There are, of course, important differences between the flu virus and Covid-19. The school is still out on just how much of a threat paper money is when it comes to Covid-19. What is clear is that coronavirus, like colds and flu, usually spreads from an infected person via droplets that are released through coughing or sneezing.

Should we sanitise our money? According to Dr Adalia, a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, there's no indication that actually cleaning your money will make much difference. That said, it's worth knowing that hard currency can be cleaned.

Today's more resilient polymer banknotes, made of thin, flexible plastic, offer an important step forward in this regard. Polymer cash was first introduced to Britain in 2016 with the introduction of new £5 notes. The £10 polymer note followed a year later and plans were in place to introduce £20 and £50 notes shortly thereafter.

In early adopter nations like Australia, polymer notes have proven to be very hard-wearing and able to handle most methods of cleaning. They're also more hygienic than paper notes because of their resistance to moisture and dirt.

Polymer notes can be washed using a vinegar and salt solution, or with soapy water or antibacterial spray. (You shouldn't, however, try to clean them using microwave ovens, high temperatures or corrosive chemicals like bleach or chlorine.)

By comparison with notes, coins are even easier to clean. All you need is some warm water, dishwashing detergent and a toothbrush.

How Can We Avoid Over-Spending During the Pandemic?

Making longer-term moves to retain cash may be worthwhile, but that may not help us much during lockdowns. How can we avoid digital debt in the present season?

Use apps that limit your spending