Since mid-March, the response to the pandemic from governments has led to severe disruption to mining operations across a large number of countries. In all 32 countries have passed partial or complete lockdown orders, leading to the temporary suspension of activities at 1,697 mines as at 3 April.
However, as lockdowns have ended and mines are increasingly considered an essential service, as at 27 April, this number had fallen to 729. The exempted mines are, however, operating with reduced numbers of workers to minimise the potential spread of the virus.