Facebook is temporarily banning ads for medical face masks, citing concerns that many marketers are trying to exploit people’s fear, anxiety and need to profit from the spread of the coronavirus. Facebook’s head of ads and business products, Rob Leathern, said the app is stopping ads and commercial listings that sell medical face masks. The ban on ads will affect products described as medical devices and face masks that are now in short supply. Leathern also said the company is constantly monitoring developments related to the coronavirus and will make the necessary changes to policies if it notices that some people are trying to take advantage of this critical public health situation. Masks of all types are increasingly being used around the world by those concerned about the coronavirus, and as demand increases, so do prices. Wearing a face mask is no guarantee that someone cannot transmit or catch the virus. It should also be noted that the Coronavirus can remain dormant for several weeks and not show symptoms.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that masks only be used by those who are in contact with someone who is showing symptoms of the Coronavirus or is coughing or sneezing. It is recommended to follow basic hygiene standards, such as washing hands well with soap or an antiseptic.
Some companies are also asking staff to work from home in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus. As panic buying for products including toilet paper, face masks and hand sanitizer has left shelves empty, e-commerce platforms including Amazonare facing a particularly serious challenge. Amazon has removed more than a million products from site to prevent other suppliers from taking advantage of the concerns over the coronavirus.
One of the problems that has arisen is the increase in prices for basic items, such as masks and sanitizers, which were otherwise available at much lower prices. In addition, products are circulating that are supposed to prevent or treat the virus.
Facebook and Twitter are trying to prevent the spread of false information, including fake treatments, statistics and rumors about the origin of the coronavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has described the situation as an “infodemic.”
Currently, the number of confirmed new cases of Coronavirus has exceeded 110,000 worldwide, with more than 3,800 deaths. The majority of cases are in China, South Korea and Italy. Italy has quarantined the most affected areas (most recently Lombardy), while flights in and out of Milan are still available. Finally, the UK government will hold an emergency meeting today on the issue of Coronavirus.
