7 Common Items That Increase Your Risk of Catching Coronavirus

5. Credit cards

Yes, cards are safer than cash, but those quick exchanges are red flags for you and your credit card. “As we swipe at vendor locations thinking that this is safer than exchanging monetary paper to lessen human contact, we don’t realize that credit cards get hardly any TLC,” says Malkin.

“People use them frequently to purchase items online as well, so that card has been exposed to different surfaces besides the inside of a wallet.” Malkin points out that it’s not that uncommon for someone to even pop the credit card in their mouth as they’re struggling to close a bag or trying to find where they put their wallet.

Vandana A. Patel, MD, clinical advisor for online pharmacy Cabinet, actually suggests that if your credit card touched someone else’s hand, you should sanitize it as soon as possible after paying and before placing it into your wallet or purse.

She also notes that as harmful as a credit card might be, it’s a lot better than cash, especially when referring to our current situation. “If you can use a credit card, that is preferable over cash, as you can sanitize a credit card easier than cash, while reducing the transfer of material from person to person.”