Downing Street has defended the decision to test Michael Gove's daughter for coronavirus, arguing it was necessary to ensure the Cabinet minister could "get back to work."
Mr Gove's daughter first starting showing Covid-19 symptoms on April 5, Mail Online reported. Under Government guidelines this means members of the same household need to self-isolate for 14 days.
But the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has come under fire after it emerged his daughter was tested just days after first showing symptoms, while thousands of NHS workers are still waiting to be tested.
Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain on Monday, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rachel Reeves, said NHS workers should remain the priority for coronavirus testing.
On Mr Gove’s daughter being tested, she said: "I will have reservations about it being one rule for some and another for everyone else. Those tests are obviously in short supply."
The Prime Minister's official spokesman defended the decision and said that the test has been carried out on the advice of Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty "in line with medical guidance."
The spokesman said: "The minister in charge of the Cabinet Office is a central role in the coronavirus response.
"Testing a member of the household ensured that Michael Gove could get back to work to drive forward the government's response at a critical time."
Within 24 hours of Mr Gove's daughter showing symptoms, Mr Whitty had approved a request for her to be tested, according to Mail Online.
The test reportedly came back negative on Wednesday, April 8.
"She was tested on Tuesday and the result came back negative on Wednesday afternoon, at which point the household isolation rules no longer applied to the family," a source close to Mr Gove told the news site.
The Standard has contacted Mr Gove's office for comment.
