People who had made reservations purchase protective masks at a pharmacy in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Feb. 3, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Qianyu)

Can Vitamin-C effervescent tablets prevent the novel coronavirus? Can a certain disinfectant kill 99.999% virus? South China's Guangdong Province exposed and punished companies who recently made false advertising of products and exaggerated their efficacy on preventing and killing the coronavirus. 

Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation reported ten cases of false advertising of anti-COVID19 products on Saturday, in which companies mislead consumers to believe that their products can efficiently stop the coronavirus or prevent getting infected with COVID-19 amid the epidemic outbreak. 

Some nutrition supplement companies say that their products can effectively prevent people from getting infected with flu and COVID-19 by boosting their immune system against the virus, Vitamin C effervescent tablets, for example, is a typical product that has been widely advertised to be able to substantially reduce the infection possibility.

Other companies stress the effect of their disinfection products on killing virus and bacteria.

A company claimed that their disinfectants are "1.9 times more effective than ozone, and can kill 99.999% virus, not only the coronavirus but also HIV, SARS, Ebola and so on."

A mask company in Shantou city, Guangdong, also tried to promote their sales by saying that their disposable masks have the same function as respiratory protective devices, which can filter at least 95% of airborne particles and be used in a medical way. The local market regulation authority seized more than 80,000 masks for sale in the factory and investigated into the case. 

In violation of the advertising law, the companies have been either under an investigation or received a fine as punishment, ranging from 5,000 yuan ($700) to 20,000 yuan ($2,700), for their misleading and deceiving product promotions.