Facebook temporarily bans ads and commerce listings for medical face masks amid growing concern over coronavirus-related exploitation. Facebook is temporarily temporarily banning ads and stores listings for surgical face masks.

Facebook director of product management Rob Leathern tweeted’we’re monitoring covid19 closely’.’we’ll start rolling out this change in the days ahead,’ he said.

Anticipate profiteers will evolve their approach as we enforce on these ads. We are rolling this out in the coming days.

The World Health Organization said people have been buying face masks and other equipment leading to a shortage of protective gear for health care workers.

Facebook announced a ban on ads that falsely suggest an item is in limited supply, and any that promote fake’cures’ or prevention methods for covid-19. The rules apply to Instagram as well.

We’re against people exploiting this public health emergency. We’re banning ads and commerce listings selling medical face masks on Instagram and Facebook.

Facebook shut down one of its Seattle offices after a contractor tested positive for novel coronavirus. The company has also restricted social visitors to its offices, and canceled its participation in a number of conferences as a result of the outbreak.