British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has committed to holding an inquiry into the country's handling of the coronavirus crisis but said now is not the time as the battle to combat the pandemic is ongoing.

Opposition lawmakers have been pressing for an inquiry after ministers were criticised for being too slow to lock down, to introduce mass testing and to deliver protective equipment.

Johnson has repeatedly said his government took the right decisions at the right time but also admits that lessons will have to be learned after the pandemic which has left Britain as one of the worst-affected countries.