CAIT seeks clarification from Health Minister about spread of Covid via currency

New Delhi, Sep 9 (KNN) The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has written to the Union Health Minister Dr Harshvardhan seeking clarification whether the currency notes can carry infectious diseases or not.

Drawing the Health Minister's attention towards various reports which states that currency notes are carriers of infectious diseases, the traders' body said that it's a matter of concern.

''The CAIT has sought an authentic clarification immediately about the fact whether currency notes are carriers of infectious diseases or not. If yes, then what are the preventive and safety measures, the government can suggest, not only for the traders but even for the people of the country so that any prospect of spreading corona through currency notes must be contained,'' said CAIT.

Citing a study by King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, in 2015 and 2016 on banknotes and coins, CAIT said as the Covid virus is transmitted through droplets, the currency notes may pose a threat.

 CAIT National President B C Bhartia & Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that the business community being the largest user of currency notes is most prone to any such infection.

''In the context of COVID, there is a great fear among the traders across the country about handling the cash currency since it changes hands rapidly between an unquantified series of unknown persons,'' the duo said.

''Therefore, a clarification on this issue is necessary as the currency is used by every citizen of the country and if it is really a virus carrier then adoption of preventive measures is required to contain the spreading of corona,'' added Bhartia & Khandelwal.