Myanmar has extended the ban on international flights until the end of January, as the country seeks to prevent the importation of Covid-19.

The extension was announced via the country’s Ministry of Transport and Communications via a statement issued on December 31, the day the ban was supposed to end.

According to the statement, the extension was made in light of the continued rise in cases across many countries and regions. Discussions among relevant ministries are underway for the phased resumption of international commercial flights, dependent on the rapidly evolving situation, it added.

As of Monday, Myanmar has reported 126,935 Covid-19 cases with 2,744 deaths, according to a release from the Ministry of Health and Sports.