Prime Minister Boris Johnson has described the coronavirus crisis as a "disaster" for the UK, but has insisted now is not the right time for an inquiry into what has gone wrong.

Speaking to Times Radio, the prime minister said: "This has been a disaster - let's not mince our words. I mean this has been an absolute nightmare for the country and the country has gone through a profound shock."

Johnson, who spent time in intensive care battling Covid-19, said the government owed it to all those who have died and suffered to look at exactly "what went wrong and when".

"I totally understand that and we will. I happen to think that the moment is not right now, when everybody is flat out, I don't think the moment is right now for consecrating a huge amount of official time to all of that.

"But we are learning lessons the whole time."

Asked about his senior adviser, Dominic Cummings, who faced calls to be sacked or resign last month for allegedly breaching lockdown rules, Mr Johnson said: "Dom is outstanding."