Unions say at least 2,300 of Codelco's workers have been infected with the virus since mid-March.

Civil society groups last month demanded an end to mandatory mine-site confinement policies put in place by copper and cobalt mining companies to avoid coronavirus outbreaks.

MINING.COM's ranking of the world's 50 largest mining companies based on market value shows an industry clawing back most of the covid-19 related losses by the end of the second quarter.

Unions had voted to implement a seven-day on, seven-day off shift schedule.