Kate Garraway warns 'there are MORE long Covid symptoms emerging'

Kate Garraway has warned ‘there are MORE long Covid symptoms emerging.’

On Monday morning, the presenter, 54, gave GMB viewers an update on her husband Derek Draper’s road to recovery, admitting: ‘All the time there are more issues!’

Derek, 53, is still recovering at home from his lengthy battle with the illness which previously proved near-fatal and his left his body ravaged, and Kate has now revealed that ‘more symptoms are presenting’.

Oh no! On Monday, Kate Garraway, 54, warned ‘there are MORE long Covid symptoms emerging’ as she gave GMB viewers an update on her husband Derek Draper’s road to recovery

Kate’s co-host Ben Shephard, 46, asserted: ‘Long Covid is a very real issue for a lot of people who have caught the virus.’

And Dr Amir Khan agreed, confirming: ‘It is very real. It’s estimated two million people across the UK are suffering from Long Covid.

‘And symptoms can include extreme fatigue, brain fog, problems with vision problems with pain, difficulty breathing, palpitations, chest pain, all sorts of things.’

Kate added: ‘And that’s only the ones we know, isn’t it Dr Khan? Because more and more are emerging of different bits of the body that have damage.

Illness: Derek was released from the hospital in March this year after being first diagnosed in March 2020 and he is considered to be the longest surviving Covid-19 patient in the country

Truth! ‘I know Derek is an extreme example, but there are more Long Covid symptoms emerging. All the time there are more issues’ said Kate (Pictured on her way to Smooth radio)

‘I know Derek is an extreme example, but there are more Long Covid symptoms emerging. All the time there are more issues. Initially it was exhaustion but more are presenting.’

Dr Khan agreed: ‘Yes that’s absolutely right and the symptoms can be mild in some people and severe in others.

Long Covid – also known as post-Covid-19 syndrome – is when Covid symptoms continue beyond the period of infection.

Among the long list of symptoms are fatigue, chest tightness, dizziness, heart palpitations and problems with memory or concentration.

Research published by the Department of Health last month suggested that up to two-million people in the UK may have had Long Covid.

According to the NHS, the chances of having long-term symptoms does not seem to be linked to how ill you are when you first get COVID-19.

However, the study last month showed that prevalence of Long Covid increased with age and was higher among women.

‘It’s thought it is caused by this over immune response to the virus that create these antibodies long after the virus is cleared, these antibodies then star attacking normal tissue which gives you these symptoms.

‘Treatment options are still being discovered … and while we’re waiting there isn’t much we can do because we don’t really know what the treatments are yet so it’s really really tough.’

He added: ‘Lewis Hamilton, I’m really sorry he is suffering from Long covid but someone so prominent talking about it does show how even the healthiest of people can get Covid and suffer these long Covid symptoms.’

Over the weekend, Lewis admitted fears he may be suffering the effects of Long Covid – after coming close to collapse at the end of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The racing driver complained of extreme fatigue and dizziness and required help onto the podium, after finishing third in one of the most dramatic races in recent history.

After the race he admitted he may be suffering the debilitating long-term effects of coronavirus, having contracted the disease last December.

Lewis said: ‘I haven’t spoken to anyone about Long Covid but I think it is lingering there. I remember the effects of when I had it and training has been different since then. The level of fatigue that you get is different and it’s a real challenge.

‘I’m trying to keep training and preparing as best I can. Who knows what it was today? Maybe dehydration. I don’t know but it was definitely different. I had something similar at Silverstone but this was way worse. I was having real dizziness and everything got a bit blurry on the podium.

‘I have been fighting all year with staying healthy because of what happened at the end of last year but still it’s a battle.’

Raising awareness: Kate has been giving her fans regular updates on her husband’s condition

Real fears: Over the weekend, Lewis Hamilton admitted he could still be suffering from Long Covid after eight months

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed Lewis had been sent to the team doctor at the end of the race as a precaution, after he seemed overwhelmed on the podium.

Meanwhile, Kate’s husband Derek was released from the hospital in March this year after being first diagnosed in March 2020.

The virus wreaked havoc throughout his entire body, resulting in kidney failure, liver and pancreatic damage.

On more than one occasion his heart stopped beating, he battled bacterial pneumonia and fought multiple infections which punctured holes in his lungs.

He is considered to be the longest surviving Covid-19 patient in the country. The former lobbyist continues to recover from the illness at their London home.