The suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger flights to and from Nepal has been extended until May 31 midnight, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said on Tuesday.

Two weekly flights on the Kathmandu-Delhi sector–one of Nepal Airlines and another of Air India–however, will remain operational under an air bubble arrangement between Nepal and India.

“Airlines are informed not to open passenger booking to and from Nepal until further advice and are notified to facilitate refunding of air tickets or extension of travel dates as required by passengers,” the civil aviation regulator said in its notice.

Nepal decided to halt all domestic flights from May 3 midnight and all international flights from May 6 midnight until May 14 to check the rapidly growing spread of the Covid-19.

Prohibitory orders in Kathmandu Valley that have been in place since April 29 to contain the spread of the coronavirus have been extended until May 27.

A meeting of the chief district officers of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur took a decision to this effect on Tuesday.

“We have decided to extend the existing prohibitory orders, which will expire on Wednesday midnight, for another 15 days,” said Lalit Basnet, acting chief district officer of Lalitpur, who attended the meeting on behalf of Lalitpur Chief District Officer Dhundi Prasad Niroula.

“In view of the growing crowds, we have also decided to extend the hours of opening shops and department stores selling essential foodstuffs until 10am. Construction work has been stopped, except at national pride projects.”