- BEIJING (Reuters) - Money
may be the root of all evil, but China is trying to make sure it won't
be a source of SARS.
-
- The central People's Bank of China was putting more new
cash into circulation and holding used banknotes for 24 hours before putting
it back into people's hands, the People's Daily newspaper said on its Web
site on Tuesday.
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- The Communist Party mouthpiece said some banks were even
sterilizing grimy bills and showering them with ultraviolet radiation to
try to kill the SARS virus, which has killed 148 people and infected more
than 3,300 in China.
-
- The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, one of the
"Big Four" state banks, was urging customers to use automated
teller machines, telephones and the Internet to do their banking, it said.
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- But the report cited medical experts as saying there
was no clear evidence that people who frequently handled money were at
higher risk of catching SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome.
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- SARS is believed to be transmitted mainly by airborne
water droplets, such as from coughs or sneezes, but there is some evidence
it can be contracted via surfaces such as elevator buttons and door handles.
-
- Apart from battling dirty money, the central bank was
also using its clout to help businesses making or selling medicine or equipment
used to fight SARS and had ordered banks to step up lending and quicken
loan approvals, the People's Daily said.
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