A TORY minister has defended his colleague Michael Gove not self-isolating after being alerted that he came in contact with someone who had coronavirus.

Robert Jenrick was quizzed about why Cabinet Secretary Gove is not self-isolating after being told he should by the Test and Trace programme.

Gove had recently returned from Portugal where he was supporting Chelsea in the Champions League final.

If someone is notified that they have been in contact with someone who had a positive test result for Covid-19, you are supposed to complete 10 full days of isolation at home.

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Jenrick was appearing on ITV's Good Morning Britain when host Richard Madeley asked the Housing Secretary why Gove was not self-isolating.

Madeley said: "Forgive my cynicism, but you talk about caution - how is it that your Cabinet colleague Mr Gove has been pinged on track and trace and yet, like the rest of us, he doesn't have to isolate, he's just doing tests?"

In response, Jenrick said he had not spoken to Gove so does not know all the details, but added that it was "encouraging" that the Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster will be doing testing rather than self-isolating.

"He's taking part - as I understand it - in a pilot where people can have slightly different circumstances to otherwise. But I'm sure he's going to take all the necessary precautions."

Gove is taking part in a pilot scheme where participants take daily tests for the virus instead of self-isolating. As long as a negative test is recorded, participants are allowed to leave home.

The scheme was launched recently and is open to as many as 40,000 people with the goal to determine how effective daily testing can be.

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Madeley said that it "strikes a lot of people as a very convenient pilot scheme" that not everyone can take part in, adding that it seems like "one rule for you and one rule for us".

Jenrick said: "There are lots of these schemes happening, different types of pilots across the country to help people to go into venues, nightclubs and sporting events and so on. We learn a lot from these and with this extra evidence and information, we're able, of course, to move forward with the roadmap [out of lockdown]."

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is participating in the daily contact testing programme after being advised to isolate by NHS Test and Trace.

“He has followed Covid-19 regulations and guidance at all times and will continue to do so.”