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To help contain the spread of coronavirus, the UAE Central Bank on Thursday urged customers to use online banking facilities.
“The [regulator] strongly encourages banking customers to take advantage of digital and online banking services as a measure to protect the health and safety of UAE residents,” the central bank said in a statement.
The banking authority said customers should use contactless mobile payments, and link their debit or credit card to devices, to make cashless transactions.
Studies suggest that paper bills can carry bacteria and viruses. The World Health Organisation (WHO) advises customers to wash their hands after handling cash to prevent the spread of the virus.
China’s Central Bank also ordered last month banks in the country to disinfect cash before issuing it to the public, using either ultraviolet or heat treatments.
WHO declared the coronavirus as a pandemic earlier in March after the number of infections outside China increased dramatically.
Various nations around the world have closed their borders to stop the spread of the virus, as the number of cases worldwide jumped to over 200,000.
The UAE confirmed 15 new cases of coronavirus infection on Tuesday, taking the total number of cases in the country to 113.
(Writing by Gerard Aoun; editing by Cleofe Maceda)
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