Accelerate the Promotion of Mobile Payments during the COVID-19 Epidemic.

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 is caused by a novel SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). During the COVID-19 epidemic, when people are infected with the virus, they can transmit the virus onto paper or coin money through touch and droplets, potentially making any physical currency a carrier of the virus. Although there is no report confirming that people can become infected with viruses by cash circulation, relevant research on the survival of viruses on solid surfaces supports this hypothesis. Mobile payments can help individuals avoid coming in direct contact with any paper or coin money. Therefore, we strongly recommend the promotion of mobile payments during the COVID-19 epidemic.