Medical experts said there was no clear evidence that incidences of the disease were higher among those frequently handling banknotes, but the central bank said it was putting more unused banknotes into circulation and ensuring a 24-hour holding period before redirecting recycled cash back into daily use.

In a press release on Friday, the also issued a requirement that commercial banks step up financial support for businesses that produce or sell drugs and equipment used in fighting the potentially deadly virus, and urged them to implement faster loan approvals.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the nation's largest commercial bank, said it has taken measures to ensure supply of cash at key sites in the forefront of the SARS battle, mostly hospitals and pharmacies, and that cash passing into the public's hands is free of the virus.

"When suspicious banknotes come back in, we first sterilize them with disinfectant, and expose them under ultraviolet light for four hours," said an ICBC spokesman.

He said the bank is also disinfecting everyday its more than 700 automatic teller machines (ATMs) in Beijing.

The central bank has called for broader use of bank cards to avoid close contact among people.

"We are advising people to use ATMs, e-banking and telephone banking services instead of going to the counters," the ICBC spokesman said.

The financial order in the capital remains stable, including withdrawals and depositing activities, sources said.

The ICBC spokesman said: "Except for reducing our public activities, none of our normal operations have been affected."

(China Daily April 29, 2003)