Contactless Payments Reduce COVID-19 Risk
The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised everyone to “use contactless payments to reduce the risk of transmission” of COVID-19.
We’d like to help by sharing some information on how to reduce exposure of the virus during the checkout process.
![](https://paperlesspayments.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/nfc-tap-to-pay-with-hand.png)
With a customer-facing terminal, the credit cards remain in the hands of consumers, minimizing contact with the virus.
4 Steps to Reducing Exposure
![money changing hands](https://paperlesspayments.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/money-changing-hands.jpg)
The WHO has cautioned that paper money
can be contaminated with virus.
![preferred payment acceptance](https://paperlesspayments.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/contactless-payment-device.jpg)
The WHO also advises consumers to use contactless
payments to minimize risk of contracting the virus.
![credit card changing hands](https://paperlesspayments.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/credit-card-changing-hands.jpg)
Many traditional payment terminals require clerks and customers to pass credit cards, increasing potential contact with the virus.
![preferred payment acceptance](https://paperlesspayments.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/contactless-payment-device.jpg)
With a customer-facing terminal, the credit cards remain
in the hands of consumers, minimizing contact with the virus.
*The WHO has cautioned the virus can live and be transferred up to 3 days on plastic surfaces.
![hard to clean terminals.](https://paperlesspayments.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/hard-to-clean-terminals..jpg)
Many payment terminals are difficult to clean due to
their form factor and materials used on the screen and keypad.
![easy to clean terminal](https://paperlesspayments.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/easy-to-clean-terminal.jpg)
The WHO also advises consumers to use contactless
payments to minimize risk of contracting the virus.
![close-up-of-man-signing-credit-card-receipt](https://paperlesspayments.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/close-up-of-man-signing-credit-card-receipt.jpg)
Traditional terminals require clerks and customers to exchange pen and paper to sign receipts, which increases exposure.
![receipt-mobile-phone](https://paperlesspayments.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/receipt-mobile-phone.jpg)
Removing the signature requirement eliminates this physical exchange, minimizing contact, while a digital receipt is still available to the customer.