Quick update on the @MichelBarnier announcement: I understand that most staff on his Task Force UK team were already working from home since last Friday, so the regime of virtual contact within the TF and between Brussels and London will continue
2/ A number of essential staff, who would have worked closer with Mr Barnier, have now gone into self-isolation for 14 days
3/ EU and UK negotiators were supposed to meet for the next round yesterday in London, but that had obviously been cancelled. There has been talk of video conferencing, but that still requires groups of negotiators to be in a room, so that's still not happening
4/ Mr Barnier is said to be doing fine, but got himself checked out after feeling "a bit weird" a few days ago. He had been at his home outside Paris since Friday anyway, and will remain there for the time being...
5/ As to whether or not the UK will seek an extension to the transition period, according to the Withdrawal Agreement both sides have to agree through the Joint Committee before July 1. There can only be one extension and it would last either one year or two years
6/ Both sides have exchanged formal draft legal texts and they will be analysed while the general lockdown continues. The UK has requested the European Commission not to share its text with member states; Task Force UK will go through the document and share its analysis with MS
7/ David Frost, the UK's chief negotiator, and Clara Martinez Alberola, Mr Barnier's deputy, will remain in contact. This morning a UK govt spokes said: "We send Michel Barnier our best wishes for his recovery."
8/ It's understood the last contact between Frost and Barnier was at the opening Brussels round of negotiations on March 2. A UK official said David Frost "of course sends his best wishes too."
