There are two banknotes in my wallet. Freshly withdrawn from the ATM almost six months ago, their crisp edges have remained untouched ever since. They are relics from a pre Covid-19 life, when physical cash did not represent the potential spread of virus and payment by digital wallet was convenient, not a lifeline to the outside world.
We have seen a wave of speculation that the arrival of Covid-19 signals the end of cash, prompted by an undeniable rise in the popularity of digital payments as a result of lockdown restrictions and government advice against the handling of physical currency.
