Kate Garraway has voiced her fears the U.K could face a second pandemic from long Covid.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Friday, the presenter, 54, revealed she had been reading up on scientific research into the long-term implications of those who have had the virus.
Kate said she was motivated to find out more about long Covid following her husband Derek Draper’s year-long battle in intensive care after contracting the virus.
Worries: Kate Garraway voiced her fears the U.K could face a second pandemic from long Covid on Good Morning Britain on Friday
Kate’s husband was first hospitalised in March 2020, when he fell ill after contracting coronavirus, and spent 12 months in hospital after suffering complications from the virus.
Derek, 53, is now at home and Kate has been juggling taking care of the former lobbyist, with looking after the couple’s two children – Darcey, 15, and William, 11 – and her working commitments.
Speaking on GMB, Kate said: ‘There has been this landmark study into long Covid. I know I have personal reasons to look into long Covid in great detail.
‘What they’ve highlighted, and what I’ve been saying, is that we are facing another pandemic of the suffering of long Covid of which the symptoms are still unclear.
Tough time: Kate said she was motivated to find out more about long Covid, following her husband Derek Draper’s year-long battle in intensive care after contracting the virus
Research: The presenter, 54, revealed she had been reading up on scientific research into the long-term implications of those who have had the virus
Fearful: Kate said: ‘What they’ve highlighted, and what I’ve been saying, is that we are facing another pandemic of the suffering of long Covid of which the symptoms are still unclear’
‘We know that thousands if not millions have some of the symptoms, but don’t know the full extent.’
The presenter claimed part of the report stated poor access to treatment was causing problems.
She continued: ‘I can only imagine that is going to get worse as pressure on the NHS is already so great, then with pressure dealing with new cases, how on earth can it be expected to help an emerging other situation, which is long Covid?’
Long road ahead: Doctors have said Derek probably ‘won’t recover’ from Covid if he doesn’t make significant improvements in the two years since contracting the virus
Dr Amir responded: ‘Yes, you’re absolutely right. In my experience the treatment options available for patients with long Covid are limited and they’re often waiting quite a long time to be seen in secondary care clinics as well.
‘The study is really promising in that it shows that if you have two doses of the vaccine, you can reduce the risk of developing long Covid by a third. The vaccines are key in this.’
‘Long-haul Covid’ appears in patients that have recovered from the virus and continue exhibiting symptoms for weeks, or potentially months or years, after clearing the infection.
There are a wide-array of symptoms that can appear, including continued loss of taste and smell, long-term fatigue and long-term sensory issues.
The causes of the condition remain unknown and several studies are being conducted to examine long-term effects.
Powering on: Later in the day, Kate didn’t let a little rain dampen her spirits as she braved the streets to head to her Smooth Radio show in London
Later in the day, Kate was spotted heading to Global Studios to host her Smooth Radio show and flashed a smile as she took cover from the wet weather with a newspaper.
Seeming in good spirits, however, the TV star was seen flashing a smile as she arrived for her latest radio show in the rain.
Kate cut a stylish figure in a leopard print midi dress and tailored white coat, which she teamed with nude court heels.
The presenter appeared to have her hands full as she toted a large cream bag on one shoulder and was seen pulling a travel case behind her.
Shielding herself from the downpour, she made sure to protect her blow-dried locks and held a newspaper on her head as she made her way through the capital.
Taking cover: The Good Morning Britain presenter was seen shielding herself from the downpour with a newspaper on her head
Her appearance comes after Kate shared an update on Derek’s recovery and explained how doctors had informed her he needs to make significant improvements in order to recover.
She was told that Derek probably ‘wouldn’t recover’ if her didn’t make progress in the two years after he caught Covid. He has already spent a year in hospital and continues to recover from the deadly infection.
Smile: Seeming in good spirits, Kate flashed a smile as she made her way to Global Studios
Stylish: Kate looked lovely in a leopard print midi dress and white tailored coat
Kate disclosed that Derek’s neurologist, known as Dr W, also said ‘time and waiting are your friends’ because he ‘had never seen anything like this before so can’t personally chart the recovery’, reports The Daily Star.
She had pressed Dr W on how much time to allow for Derek’s recovery and was shocked to learn his estimated time frame of two years.
Writing in her new book, The Power of Hope, Kate recalled her conversation with the neurologist: ‘I had already waited so long, “How long before you know more? Not how long will it take for him to recover, because you don’t know if he can even recover, but how long before you might know more?”
‘It was a confusing question, but I knew what I meant and he seemed to as well.’
She continued: ‘After another long pause, he looked straight at me, then away. “Well, Kate” – the first time he had used my name – “I think it’s fair to say if he is still like this after two years we will know there is very little chance of him making any meaningful recovery.”
‘”TWO YEARS!” I screamed inside my head. Up until now I had been living by the minute, hours on the phone monitoring infection levels and statistics, trying to get a handle on where Derek was, wondering every time I went to sleep if he would still be alive in the morning.’
‘How could I go on like this for another two years? Worse still, how could Derek be trapped like this for two years? The timescale winded me and I’m sure I must have slumped a bit in the chair,’ she penned.
On his hospitalisation, Derek was placed into a medically induced coma before he woke in July, four months later.
Coronavirus had caused havoc throughout his entire body and resulted in him suffering from kidney failure, as well as damage to his liver and pancreas.
On more than one occasion his heart stopped beating, he battled bacterial pneumonia and fought multiple infections which punctured holes in his lungs.
Derek is considered to be the longest surviving Covid-19 patient in the UK and now at home, he still requires round-the-clock care.
Family: Kate shares two children – Darcey, 15, and William, 11 – with husband Derek