The sterilised cash must be stored for a certain period of time before returning to the market. — Photo cafef.vn

The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) has asked Vietnamese credit institutions and foreign banks’ branches in the country to disinfect cash in a bid to curb the COVID-19 outbreak.

The sterilised cash must be also stored for a certain period of time before returning to the market, according to the central bank.

The central bank has also required the institutions to disinfect and sterilise cash transaction areas, stores and ATMs.

The institutions must provide face masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and other protective gear for the tellers who are in direct contact with cash at transaction offices.

The central bank also asked the institutions to promote online banking services in order to reduce face-to-face transactions.

Earlier, the World Health Organisation advised people to wash their hands and stop using cash if possible as the paper bills may help spread coronavirus. — VNS