Minister triggers Home Office alert after positive Covid test

Policing Minister Kit Malthouse triggered a coronavirus alert in the Home Office after testing positive for the disease, it has emerged.

Officials said Mr Malthouse “promptly” left the department’s headquarters in Marsham Street, central London, on Monday after being informed of the result of a lateral flow test he took on the way into work.

However The Sunday Times reported a number of staff from two teams of officials working in the building had been required to self-isolate as a result.

Officials insisted no protocols were broken and that the Home Office’s Covid team had been informed “promptly and verbally” of what had happened.

Mr Malthouse was said to have driven himself in his own car back to his London home where he is now self-isolating with members of his household.

Following his departure a deep clean was carried out in his office and those areas he had been in contact with.

The Sunday Times, however, said official documents showed there had been no report of what happened to the Government’s Covid directorate.

Home Office sources said that filling in a form was “not mandatory” and that “it is the process being followed that is important”.

There was said to be no protocol which required a positive Covid test to be reported to the Cabinet Office.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “The Policing Minister received a positive Covid test result on Monday.

“This was a precautionary test as the minister had no symptoms.

“The minister promptly left the building and is now self-isolating with his household.

“A deep clean was conducted of his office and areas he came into contact with.”