Toorak Village newsagency to only accept cards amid coronavirus fears
People are taking extreme measures to protect themselves from the coronavirus, and now a Toorak newsagency has taken the lead of The Louvre in Paris in a bid to stop staff from becoming contaminated.
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A Melbourne newsagency has banned cash transactions as coronavirus fears heighten.
The Toorak Village newsagency, newsExpress Toorak, has told its customers that it will stop accepting cash from Monday, with only credit and eftpos cards to be used to buy items.
Newsagency manager Karen Lipka said staff made the decision as a group.
“The staff have been concerned about the virus … we had a chat about what we thought we could so and this was something we can put in place to safeguard it,” she said.
“Ultimately we are trying to reduce cash handling. We are all aware of how dirty money is.
“It is a temporary thing. People are pretty understanding in light of what’s going on.”
While not commonplace in Australia or around the world, a similar policy has been introduced at The Louvre in Paris and at some US stores.
Ms Lipka said customers’ reception had been positive, although she acknowledged the move “would be problematic” for those who did not have a credit or eftpos card.
There will be no surcharge on credit card payments.
“We’re not trying to be difficult,” she said.
“We are trying sensible measures when people are slightly concerned.
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“Hopefully people understand that it is coming from a good space.
“It is an opportunity for awareness to shift slightly — what is something I can do to further protect myself, my family, my colleagues.”
Professor Steve Worthington, who is at the Swinburne University Business School, said reducing handling of cash or coins would slightly help in reducing the chance of infection, but there were many more likely ways to contract the virus.
“It’s another small step,” he said.
“It may lessen the chance about the same as if you don’t wash your hands as thoroughly, but it doesn’t remove it.
“It might help, especially for those who don’t want to hold or handle cash, but I think you are at very, very minor risk of catching the virus compared to all the other ways.”