UP Institute of Biology: No strong evidence that COVID-19 transmitted through money

Paper money is transferred thousands of times from person to another in a span of six months to a year, statistics from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.

The report of the BSP also showed that the most used banknote in the country was the twenty-peso bill.

Amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) scare, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the novel coronavirus can be possibly transmitted through infected banknotes.

The University of the Philippines Institute of Biology said microbes are transferred between individuals through cash transactions.

But there is no strong evidence that shows the novel coronavirus can be transferred through paper bills.

"'Yung survivability ng bacteria and virus sa pera ay (pwede) for few hours to a few days pero depende pa siya dun sa temperature [at] sa moisture content. Depende kung saan mo ilalagay," researcher Jann Eldy Daquioag said, in an interview with JM Encinas for "Stand for Truth."

The WHO advised the public "to stop the spread of the disease, people should use contactless payments where possible and wash their hands after handling cash."

The BSP, however, says there is no need to disinfect coins and bills.

"The BSP doesn't really see the need to do the same kasi wala naman reported na local trnasmission ng coronavirus sa atin."

At present, the country has had three confirmed cases of the COVID-19. As of Thursday, there have been a total of 614 cases that tested negative, and 12 cases that are awaiting results. — Angelica Y. Yang/ BAP, GMA News