Telecommunications giant Telstra has ordered all Australian staff to work from home from Monday as the coronavirus crisis continues to intensify, a move that will affect nearly 20,000 workers across the country.

Telstra's Australian-based staff will be required to work remotely until the end of March, with the telco also scrapping all events and meetings of more than 25 people effective immediately. Cancellations of all domestic travel were also put in place from today.

From Monday all Australian-based Telstra staff will be required to work from home.

Telstra's decision is expected to affect close to 20,000 employees, which is about 70 per cent of its total workforce.

Alex Badenoch, Telstra's group executive for transformation, communications and people, said the decision was a precautionary step.