Kate Garraway reveals husband Derek Drapers' 'devastating' long Covid leaves him asleep for 20-hours a day

GOOD Morning Britain's Kate Garraway has discussed the 'devastating' reality of long Covid – and how it's left her husband Derek Daper with extreme fatigue.

The 54-year-old appeared on today's show and opened up about Derek's debilitating symptoms, which see him sleeping for 20 to 24 hours a day.


The acclaimed broadcaster was speaking with ITV's resident medical expert Dr Hilary Jones about the damage that Covid can cause for the those unvaccinated.

Kate began: "That's one of the things we've talked about Hilary about how now we're in a situation where most people are likely at some point to catch Covid because we can't stop people catching it.

"It's the vaccine's that stops it being more damaging and I think people who have had it mildly are starting to argue it's the same as flu – flu can be devastating to people as well…

"But this is very different because flu doesn't give you this severe organ damage."

Kate then spoke of fatigue being a symptom of Covid-19 but said she underestimated how "devastating" it can be and revealed how Derek, 54, only has a 10-minute window a day where he is awake.

She continued: "I mean, even when you look at some of the symptoms people who have been double-vaccinated suffer from it's fatigue, now fatigue I used to think was being exhausted getting up early in the morning…

Derek is sleeping 20 hours or 24 hours a day

"But the fatigue Derek has and I know it's an extreme case because he's got multiple organ challenges.

"Even with some that have milder cases, Derek is sleeping 20 hours or 24 hours a day," she admitted. "He has a 10-minute windows – and it's not just feeling a bit tired.

"He goes white, pale and everything shuts down so you don't want that kind of fatigue even ruling out all the other things people are suffering with because of long Covid as well.

"I mean the idea you can prevent that and have a bad week in bed
is life-changing isn't it".

Derek is the UK's longest-suffering Covid-19 patient and currently requires round-the-clock care as he recovers at home.

NEW REALITY

In July, Kate revealed Derek, who returned to the family home from intensive care in April following his Covid battle, has "huge challenges ahead".

Political advisor Derek was rushed to hospital with Covid in March 2020, and remained in the ICU for over a year after the virus "ravaged" his body.

Kate shared at the time: "He's very up and down, we're certainly a long way out of the woods.

"Being at home we have seen some things improve; having family around, the children around has provided stimulation.

"The problem is, you latch onto the positives – which is good because you have to."

She went on: "There's absolutely no doubt that he has huge challenges ahead."

Kate previously revealed that Derek has been left "devastated" by Covid and "can't move", requiring 24-hour care at their home.

He has minimal communication and can't feed himself, with Kate heartbreakingly concluding: "He is a long way from the Derek Draper you knew, but he is home and alive."

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