Biometric systems use scanners to verify the identity of human beings by measuring the patterns of their behavioral or physiological characteristics. Some biometric systems are contactless and do not require direct touch to perform these measurements; others, such as fingerprint verification systems, require the user to make direct physical contact with the scanner for a specified duration for the biometric pattern of the user to be properly read and measured. This may increase the possibility of contamination with harmful microbial pathogens or of cross-contamination of food and water by subsequent users. Physical contact also increases the likelihood of inoculation of harmful microbial pathogens into the respiratory tract, thereby triggering infectious diseases. In this viewpoint, we establish the likelihood of infectious disease transmission through touch-based fingerprint biometric devices and discuss control measures to curb the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

UNSTRUCTURED Biometric systems verify humans using scanners to measure the patterns of their behavioural or physiological characteristics. While contactless biometric scanners like facial recognition obtain facial pattern measurements without direct touch, contact-based biometric scanners such as fingerprint verification systems require physical contact as part of the process of obtaining the biometric sample needed for recognition. The process requires the user to directly place the thumb on the scanner in a certain manner for a specified duration in order for the biometric pattern to be properly read and measured. The direct placement of the thumb on the scanner surface could potentially increase the chances of contamination with harmful microorganisms including pathogens, fungi, bacteria, and viruses, cross contamination of hands of subsequent users with unintentional transfer to food and water, as well as direct inoculation into the respiratory tract thereby triggering infectious diseases. This paper, a viewpoint on the transmissibility of infectious diseases through touch-based fingerprint biometric device, proposes hygienic measures to curbing the spread of infectious diseases including the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).