Boris Johnson is reportedly reluctant to ease the coronavirus lockdown over fears of a second wave of infections.

The prime minister has told colleagues his 'over-riding concern' is to avoid a second wave of the pandemic and a fresh spike in cases, according to the Times.

During a two-hour meeting on Friday with foreign secretary Dominic Raab, Dominic senior adviser Cummings, Lee Cain, director of communications and cabinet secretary Sir Mark Sedwill, Mr Johnson was said to have outlined these concerns.

Mr Johnson is reportedly taking a more cautious stance on when to begin reopening the economy than Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Michael Gove who want to minimise the damage of the lockdown to businesses.

Health secretary, Matt Hancock, argued that before easing restrictions the government should try to suppress the virus for longer so its transmission rate becomes much lower.

Revelations of Mr Johnson's concerns come as it emerged pubs and restaurants could remain closed until the winter, as Mr Gove said hospitality would be 'among the last to exit the lockdown'.

A government source told the Times: 'The idea that we will be rushing to lift measures is a non-starter.

'If the transmission rate rises significantly we will have to do a harder lockdown again.'

Last week Gove and Sunak suggested that once the peak of the virus had passed and the transmission rate lowered, the government should 'run things quite hot' and ease restrictions.

The source added: 'It's a question of how comfortable you are with the virus circulating in the community.'

On Sunday a Sunday Times article claimed the Johnson administration 'just watched' as the death toll mounted in Wuhan during January and February.

A Whitehall source claimed the Government 'missed the boat on testing and PPE' (personal protective equipment) during a vital period before the outbreak took hold in Britain.

This evening, Number 10 accused the Sunday Times of 'falsehoods' and 'errors' in a six-page rebuttal of the article.

Mr Gove confirmed the Sunday Times report that the PM had not attended five meetings of the key Government committee Cobra in the run-up to the crisis, but insisted this was not unusual.

He confirmed the PM did not attend the meetings, but added: 'He didn't. But then he wouldn't. Because most Cobra meetings don't have the Prime Minister attending them.'

Number 10 also insisted Mr Johnson, who is currently recovering from coronavirus at Chequers after spending several nights in intensive care last week, 'has been at the helm' of the government's response to the crisis.

Speaking earlier today, Mr Gove said the accusation the PM purposefully sidestepped these five meetings was 'grotesque'.

It also emerged today that the government shipped 260,000 items of personal protective equipment to China amid warning sirens from doctors that the UK was woefully under-prepared to cope with a pandemic.

Medial care staff have expressed alarm as surgeons are being advised 'not to risk their health' by working without adequate PPE amid fears that hospitals could run out of supplies.

Mr Sunak is also facing mounting pressure to boost his business bailout so that the Government increases its guarantee on loans to struggling firms to 100 per cent.

The Treasury will today announce a further £1.25billion package to support innovative firms hit as the virus lockdown causes the economy to stutter to a halt.

It will include a £500million loans fund for high-growth companies and £750million in loans and grants for small firms focused on research and development.