Is Cash Safe to Handle?

Consumer Payment Choice Coalition Says U.S. Currency Poses No Greater Risks Than Cards or Phones

With concerns over the spread of COVID-19, there has been a myriad of misinformation about the possibility of spreading the virus by simply handling currency. The CPCC believes it is important for the public to be fully and accurately informed, and not misled by unfounded fears surrounding the use of cash versus other payment methods.

A recent study, published in the Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology, found that U.S. currency, a porous surface, had the lowest average transfer efficiency of any of the surfaces considered – ranging from 0.05 percent to 0.2 percent – while that efficiency was measured at average levels as high as 79.5 percent among the nonporous surfaces.

The CPCC states, "We want America to know that our organizations remain committed to ensuring safe, convenient, and widespread access to cash during the current health crisis."