BHP chief executive Mike Henry says the government has made clear it wants the resources sector to continue working through the escalating coronavirus lockdown, but New Hope Coal chief executive Shane Stephan said it would be naive to think Australian mines would not be affected by the pandemic.

The local industry's determination to continue operating came as South Africa and the Canadian state of Quebec told their mining industries to join the rest of society in three week lockdowns, in a move that will affect ASX-listed companies like Rio Tinto, South32, Jupiter Mines and Champion Iron.