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Infected with Corona Virus from banknotes? Expert reveals how high the risk is

2020-03-02T08:54:33.860Z


129 reported coronavirus infections in Germany worry citizens. Can you really get infected with objects? This is how you minimize the risk.


129 reported coronavirus infections in Germany worry citizens. Can you really get infected with objects? This is how you minimize the risk.

  • Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn said: "We are at the beginning of a corona epidemic in Germany".
  • 84,248 coronavirus infections have been reported worldwide since early 2020.
  • To reduce your own risk of infection, you should take precautions.

The coronavirus epidemic never ends. The authorities are alarmed by new cases worldwide. Not only governments are setting up crisis teams, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the coronavirus epidemic an international health emergency. Citizens' concerns lead to hamster purchases, disinfection products sold out, and the use of face masks * in some regions .

But how do you get infected with the new lung disease Covid-19? And how exactly do the pathogens (also called SARS-CoV-2) spread? The following rules of conduct should be observed in order to minimize the risk of infection .

Can you get infected with the corona virus from banknotes and coins?

The European Central Bank does not assume that the risk of infection from contact with cash is particularly high. " So far, there is no evidence that the corona virus was transmitted via banknotes, " said a spokeswoman for the ECB when asked by Tagesspiegel. This is confirmed by the Bundesbank, which points out that the Eurosystem regularly carries out studies on whether the production or circulation of euro banknotes can have an impact on public health. "For citizens, the same hand hygiene * measures are recommended for handling banknotes and coins as for all other everyday items, such as door handles, shopping trolleys or payment terminals," the Bundesbank continues.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), as the federal authority for infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases, reports that the main transmission route of coronaviruses * is primarily droplet infection, i.e. if the virus gets into the air, for example due to the cough of an infected person, from there to the mucous membranes of the eyes , Hit the mouth and nose of other people and penetrate the body. A smear infection over contaminated surfaces is also considered possible - for example, if a patient infected with coronavirus coughs in the hands, opens the door in the subway and another then touches the door handle. "On the other hand, transmission via inanimate surfaces has not yet been documented. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 via surfaces that do not belong to the immediate surroundings of a symptomatic patient, such as imported goods, mail items or luggage, therefore seems unlikely," says the Sides of the RKI.

Also read : Coronavirus in Germany: What everyone can do to avoid becoming infected .

In the video: How to protect yourself from a coronavirus infection

The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) also gives the all-clear: " There are currently no cases in which it has been proven that people have become infected with the novel corona virus in another way, for example by eating contaminated food or by imported toys Other coronaviruses are not known to report foodborne infections or contact with dry surfaces, but smear infections may occur over surfaces that have recently been contaminated with viruses, however, due to the relatively low stability of coronaviruses in the environment, this is only possible a short time after contamination. "

More on the topic : Vaccination against the corona virus: epidemic expert with a bleak prognosis .

Protection against corona viruses: Should you stop using public transport?

"You can still use the bus and train. However, the following measures should be taken: washing your hands regularly, trying to keep your distance from people who have obviously caught a cold, " the Südwestrundfunk quotes virologist and laboratory manager Martin Stürmer. Given that surfaces are only infectious if infected people have contaminated them with viruses, the risk of infection is not great in non-risk areas.

However, Striker contests: " We have data that the virus can persist on surfaces for up to nine days . But whether it is still highly infectious must be confirmed again. Potentially, it is also infectious for several hours and days."

To protect yourself against coronavirus and other infectious diseases like influenza *, you should take general precautions, including:

  • Wash your hands regularly, especially after using public transport.
  • Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
  • It is best not to open doors in public spaces with your fingers, but with gloves, ankles or elbows.

Should you avoid major events related to the coronavirus epidemic?

Festivals, football games or other major events should be avoided in high-risk areas * such as the Lombardy region in Italy . If there is no travel warning for a certain area or there are no coronavirus infections in your own state, there is currently no reason to avoid events.

Sources : www.tagesspiegel.de ; www.bfr.bund.de ; www.rki.de ; www.swr.de

Survey on the subject

Read more : Coronavirus and flu in comparison: This is how the two viral diseases differ.

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* merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network .

Source: merkur

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