AP top cop's note on currency as COVID-19 carrier creates flutter

A communication from Andhra Pradesh's top police officer suggesting coronavirus may spread through currency notes has created a flutter in the state.

In a state with minimal digital transaction, the possibility of such a "phenomenon" rings "danger bells," police said.

Though the state police chief's office issued a memorandum to this effect recently to all Superintendents of Police, city Commissioners and Range DIGs and Guntur IG, DGP D G Sawang said, "there is no proof or any established evidence of contamination" by currency notes.

"There is no proof or any established evidence of contamination by currency notes of any kind whatsoever in the state," he told PTI.

He also denied, "first of all" having sent the memorandum but noted "our staff in office have incorporated (it) in one of the many routine messages which are sent on a daily basis to keep alerting units on the ground."
Petrol stations, kirana shops, vegetable and fruit vendors and pharmacists also collect money from customers and in the process "may come into contact with contaminated notes."