The danger from being infected from germs or viruses through cash is highly overrated.

Studies have shown that among bank notes, microorganisms can survive for a significant time only on bank notes made of polymer. Most bank notes in the world, including US dollar bills, are made of cotton, linen or a blend of the two whereon microorganisms tend to dry out more quickly.

Copper is antimicrobial, and that includes "gold" coins, of copper alloy. Most "silver" coins, including those in circulation in the US and most of the EU are of copper alloys too. Steel coins are not so good though.

Bank of England has summarised several studies (starts 1/3 down the page) :<https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/quarterly-bulletin/2020/2020...>

The antimicrobial effect doesn't work if the coin isn't freshly polished. Be that as it may, money is just as much a disease vector as anything multiple people touch. Risk of life and all that...

I would be greatly surprised if cash were a vector for COVID.

> The CDC said people generally don’t get COVID-19 from touching surfaces. People generally get COVID-19 from direct contact with someone who is infected or through airborne transmission.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/science-and-r...

It doesn't matter. It still feels weird to pay in cash even if some countries are starting to relax COVID measures.

I've been paying in cash all throughout COVID, doesn't feel weird to me.

That's the point of making coins out of pure silver