A realistic touch-transfer method reveals low risk of transmission for SARS-CoV-2 by contaminated coins and bank notes

Todt, D.; Meister, T. L.; Tamele, B.; Howes, J.; Paulmann, D.; Becker, B.; Brill, F. H.; Wind, M.; Schijven, J.; Mhlekude, B.; Goffinet, C.; Krawczyk, A.; Steinmann, J.; Pfaender, S.; Brueggemann, Y.; Steinmann, E.

doi:10.1101/2021.04.02.438182

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2021.04.02.438182

A realistic touch-transfer method reveals low risk of transmission for SARS-CoV-2 by contaminated coins and bank notes

Todt, D.·Meister, T. L.·Tamele, B.·Howes, J.·Paulmann, D.·Becker, B.·Brill, F. H.·Wind, M.·Schijven, J.·Mhlekude, B.·Goffinet, C.·Krawczyk, A.·Steinmann, J.·Pfaender, S.·Brueggemann, Y.·Steinmann, E.

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Abstract

The current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has created a significant threat to global health. While respiratory aerosols or droplets are considered as the main route of human-to-human transmission, secretions expelled by infected individuals can also contaminate surfaces and objects, potentially creating the risk of fomite-based transmission. Consequently, frequently touched objects such as paper currency and coins have been suspected as a potential transmission vehicle. To assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by banknotes and coins, we examined the stability of SARS-CoV-2 and bovine coronavirus (BCoV), as surrogate with lower biosafety restrictions, on these different means of payment and developed a touch transfer method to examine transfer efficiency from contaminated surfaces to skin. Although we observed prolonged virus stability, our results, including a novel touch transfer method, indicate that the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via contaminated coins and banknotes is unlikely and requires high viral loads and a timely order of specific events.

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Todt, D., Meister, T. L., Tamele, B., Howes, J., Paulmann, D., Becker, B., Brill, F. H., Wind, M., Schijven, J., Mhlekude, B., Goffinet, C., Krawczyk, A., Steinmann, J., Pfaender, S., Brueggemann, Y., Steinmann, E.. 2021-04-02. A realistic touch-transfer method reveals low risk of transmission for SARS-CoV-2 by contaminated coins and bank notes. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.04.02.438182

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