Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. No Money for Masterpieces: Louvre Bans Cash Over Virus Fears Associated Press PARIS - The Louvre is no longer taking cash, because of the coronavirus outbreak. The world's most-visited museum is shifting to card-only payments as part of new measures that helped persuade employees worried about getting sick to return to work Wednesday. Louvre workers who guard Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" and other masterpieces walked off the job on Sunday, fearful of being contaminated by the museum's flow of tourists from around the world. The Louvre's move could bring it into conflict with the Bank of France, which said refusing cash is illegal and unnecessary. Fears that banknotes might be vectors of disease aren't restricted to the Louvre. .