REUTERS/Francois Walschaerts
- Michel Barnier announces he has tested positive for the coronavirus.
- The EU's chief Brexit negoitator tweeted the news on Thursday morning.
- "I am doing well and in good spirits. I am following all the necessary instructions, as is my team," he said.
- Barnier led the EU's Brexit talks with Britain and is in charge of the bloc's trade negotiations with the UK.
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The European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Barnier on Thursday morning tweeted: "I would like to inform you that I have tested positive for #COVID19. I am doing well and in good spirits. I am following all the necessary instructions, as is my team.
"For all those affected already, and for all those currently in isolation, we will get through this together."
Barnier, 69, led the EU's Brexit talks with the United Kingdom and is leading the bloc's talks with the UK over a future trade deal.
Those talks got underway a few weeks ago but have been stalled by the spread of the COVID-19 virus across Europe.
The latest round of scheduled to take place in London this week have been postponed due to the outbreak.
Barnier's announcement is set to put pressure on the EU and UK government to extend the Brexit transition period, which is currently set to expire at the end of December.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to strike a free trade agreement with the EU before then.
However, the outbreak of coronavirus has cast significantly more doubt over whether both sides will be able to do it in that timeframe.
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Je tiens à vous informer que j'ai été testé positif #COVID19. Je vais bien, le moral est bon. Je suis naturellement toutes les instructions, tout comme mon équipe.
Mon message à tous ceux qui sont touchés ou actuellement isolés: nous nous en sortirons ensemble !. #chacunpourtous pic.twitter.com/NxMCjfseSb
- Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) March 19, 2020