Citing the findings of Germany’s national public health body, the Robert Koch Institute, BCL said “virus transmission through banknotes has no particular significance.”

The virus is transmitted via respiratory droplets from a person who is already infected. These droplets would “survive for a limited period on a bank note, like on any other object,” BCL writes. “The probability of contagion with a virus via a banknote is, however, very low in comparison with other surfaces (e.g., door handles, hand rails, light switches, shopping baskets, payment terminals).”

It reminded the public to adopt the basic protective measures recommended by the World Health Organisation, such as frequent handwashing.

The announcement comes after a number of shops in Luxembourg prioritised card payments over cash as part of efforts to reduce the spread of covid-19, caused by the coronavirus.

The Eurosystem, the monetary authority of the eurozone, is currently conducting research into the potential impact of the production and circulation of euro banknotes on public health in relation to diseases like covid-19.