File photo: IC

The Beijing Bureau of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission issued a decree on Wednesday for all financial institutions in the city, asking them to disinfecting dirty cash and storing them in a dry environment for more than seven days before the cash will be re-used.

Previously, the People's Bank of China, the central bank, has announced a number of measures for the prevention and control of the coronavirus disease, including a rule that cash recovered from hospitals must be disinfected, stored separately, or simply disposed of.  

A source close to the banking system told the Global Times on Wednesday the new notice is an extended assurance associated with the prevention and control of the virus.

"Seven days in a dry place after being sterilized via ultraviolet light will be adequate to kill any virus on cash," he said.

In addition, financial institutions will also increase the frequency of disinfection for the entrances and exits of their business outlets, counters and other areas, as well as for public appliances such as cipher devices, according to the decree. 

To ensure adequate supplies, banks have also increased the supply of new cash to key work units such as hospitals, residential communities, supermarkets and gasoline stations in a bid to reduce possible spread of the virus.