The government on Friday called on e-commerce firms to temporarily halt online auctions for face masks and disinfectants, aiming to prevent resellers from taking advantage of heightened demand amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Resellers have until March 14 to sell their stock at fair prices, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said.

Demand for masks and disinfectants has soared in recent weeks, with consumers lining up at drugstores and supermarkets.

(A pharmacy in Tokyo with a sign saying face masks sold out.)

The scarcity has led to the items being bought up by resellers and offered on auction sites at exorbitant prices, exacerbating the problem.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has vowed to ensure 600 million masks are available every month, offering subsidies to manufacturers to expand production capacity.


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