The WHO has said cash poses no more of a health risk than touching any other surface

The use of cash has halved in the past week, as customers switch to shopping online and abandon coins and notes over hygiene fears.

The World Health Organisation has said that handling cash does not pose more of a health risk than touching any other surface, but campaigners believe that the coronavirus crisis will change our habits, leading to a sharp reduction in the use and availability of cash even after the danger of getting ill recedes.

Before most businesses shut down, “card only” signs were popping up in pubs and shops all over the UK. Chains including Costa Coffee, which has 2,500 stores, had stopped accepting cash.

Many shoppers have also rejected card payments in favour of Google and Apple Pay transactions on mobile