Lockdown may have come too late, says Johnson, preparing the public for an immediate lockdown in a few months when the flu season is re-designated ‘Ahhh – Covid-19 we’re all going to die’

Boris Johnson has admitted the government did not understand coronavirus during the “first few weeks and months” of the UK outbreak.

The PM told BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg there were “very open questions” about whether the lockdown had started too late.

Mr Johnson also spoke of “lessons to be learned” and said ministers could have done some things “differently”.

Labour accused the government of “mishandling” the crisis.

More than 45,000 people in the UK have died after testing positive for coronavirus, government figures show, with almost 300,000 cases confirmed.

Last week, Mr Johnson promised an “independent” inquiry into the pandemic, but no details have been given of its scope or timing.

Read more: Lockdown may have come too late, says Johnson, preparing the public for an immediate lockdown in a few months when the flu season is re-designated ‘Ahhh – Covid-19 we’re all going to die’