KATHMANDU: Australia is likely to extend its ban on international flights until the end of 2020.

In an interview with ABC News, Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmigham said the international flights will remain banned until the end of 2020, urging the travel agents not to book the tickets for international holiday packages until December-end.

“I cannot guarantee that you can go on international holidays till December-end,” said Birmigham, adding, “Domestic flights, however, will come into operation by the coming month.”

Australia has put a ban on international flights to stem Coronavirus spread after the deadly virus started wreaking havoc across the world.

A total of 61 people have died and 6, 394 have been infected with the novel virus in Australia so far.

Broke out in Wuhan City of China last December, the deadly virus has spread to 210 countries including two international conveyances across the world, killing 119, 568 and infecting 1,922,926 people as of Tuesday morning.