Officials in London and Brussels have said there is “zero” prospect of Britain striking a Brexit trade deal without an extension to the transition period — as a new poll found that members of the public want Boris Johnson to ask for a delay.

Civil servants working on Brexit have been switched to dealing with the coronavirus amid claims that no meaningful work is being done in Whitehall to prepare for the negotiations, which are supposed to conclude by December 31.

A senior EU official has also intervened to say it would be impossible to continue negotiations without face-to-face talks, which have been suspended because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Michel Barnier, the EU negotiator, has tested positive for the virus and David Frost, Johnson’s point