Nurses who live with close contacts are being called in to work due to severe staff shortages.

Newstalk ZB's been told nurses at multiple Auckland hospitals have been asked to work despite household contacts being at Covid-19 locations of interest.

That's despite a health order stating household members of close contacts are required to stay home until the close contact has returned a negative day five test.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins told Heather du Plessis-Allan he's unsure how many are being called in.

“I don’t have an exact number on that. Like I said, they're going through a process of identifying the lowest risk staff, so that they can make sure the hospitals can continue to function.”

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