Based on the authorities granted to SAMA under its Law issued by Royal Decree No. (23) dated 23/5/1377 H and the related regulations, and in light of SAMA's commitment to protecting currency traders among citizens and residents, especially during times of spreading diseases and viruses, including the new coronavirus (COVID-19), it is essential to take precautionary and preventive measures when dealing with banknotes and coins, whether in banks or cash centers.

We inform you that banks and cash centers must adhere to the following controls and procedures:

1. Ensure health safety measures.
2. Provide masks for all employees.
3. Provide plastic gloves for those handling currency.
4. Provide sanitizing and disinfecting materials, ensuring that the alcohol content is not less than 60% of the sanitizer's formulation.
5. Provide a contactless thermometer to measure the temperature of all employees.
6. Continuously disinfect and sanitize the flooring in the cash operation area.
7. Sanitize and disinfect containers designated for currency storage after each use.
8. Continuously disinfect surfaces of tables and areas designated for arranging and placing currency.
9. Continuously disinfect and clean the surfaces of counting and sorting machines.
10. Provide gloves, masks, and sanitizers for employees inside cash transport vehicles.
11. Use hazardous materials suits (Hazmat Suit) if a currency isolation area is designated in cash centers located in high-risk virus areas.

For your information, please act accordingly from this date. Additionally, it has been decided to form a working team involving banks to coordinate efforts regarding currency handling. Therefore, I hope you can urgently nominate specialists in cash operations to participate in the team, in coordination with the Director of the Currency Supervision Department.