Managing director and chief executive officer Sandeep Biswas said people's safety in Newcrest's host communities was the company's prime concern.

"The community support fund will initially focus on increasing the availability of medical care and equipment to cope with the pandemic, as well as assisting in the provision of other essential goods and services, in the communities that host Newcrest's operations worldwide," he said.

"Recognising that the development of a vaccine for COVID-19 could save many lives worldwide, a portion of the fund will go towards vaccine research, while remaining funds will be distributed to our communities in Papua New Guinea, Australia, Canada and Ecuador."

In Australia, a portion of the fund will be directed to the Orange, Blayney and Cabonne regions.

Cadia Valley Operations acting general manager Aaron Brannigan said Orange was no exception in the way it had been affected by the global pandemic.

"We plan to actively engage with members of our communities, all levels of government, our key stakeholders and other organisations, including the health service, to ensure our contribution has the greatest possible benefit to the Orange, Blayney and Cabonne regions," he said.

Mr Brannigan said the company had already been canvassing organisations for ways it could assist.

"This week we were able to assist Orange Health Service in purchasing specialised face masks for its frontline doctors to provide additional protection against the virus," he said.

"This is the first of many opportunities where we will be able to assist.

"Our community has never faced a situation like this one and there is a great need to provide adequate support for our local people during these exceptional circumstances."

The Cadia Valley Operations website contains more information on how the Newcrest community support fund can be accessed.

Health screening has already been introduced across two checkpoints to ensure the virus is not spread among workers, with no non-essential visitors allowed on site.

Non-essential staff are working remotely.