Kate Garraway reveals her children were allowed to visit her husband Derek amid the COVID-19 battle

Kate Garraway has announced that after a 10 month recovery from COVID-19, her two children can finally visit their father Derek in the hospital.

The presenter, 53, admitted the family reunion was "heightened with emotion" when her daughter Darcey, 14, and son Billy, 11, saw Derek become "greatly changed" by battling the virus after they had had a "hard" Christmas without him.

Kate also announced that she is now banned from visiting her husband due to the new government lockdown, and she hopes this will not continue as her absence could be "very effective" in Derek's slow recovery.

Kate talked about Good Morning Britain on Thursday and considered her first Christmas without Derek. She said to Ben Shephard, “It was tough. I knew it was going to be difficult. & # 39; There was a nice moment we had.

“We saw Derek and the kids, that was the first time they could. That was great. & # 39;

Kate admitted that seeing Derek for the first time in nearly 10 months was a shock to her two children as he looked very different from when he was first taken.

She continued, “It was very emotional because he has changed a lot.

“With all the routines we would normally do, it was one of those moments that it was so wonderful, but it also reinforced how sad it all was. And how different it is.

"But it was still fantastic and we are very grateful to have had this opportunity."

Difficult: The host admitted that the reunion was "intensified by emotions" when her daughter Darcey, 14, and son Billy, 11 saw how Derek was "greatly changed" by battling the virus

Family: Kate admitted her two children were shocked to see Derek for the first time in almost 10 months (pictured with Derek and hers in December 2019).

Kate announced she can't see Derek now because new restrictions were put in place during the third lockdown prohibiting visitors to the COVID-19 ward he is recovering from.

She said to Ben, “And then I'm immediately in a position where even I can't visit her.

"We're in lockdown, so no visits at all that I hope don't last for the entire lockdown because I think this will have a big impact on Derek's condition."

Derek remains in critical condition but has improved marginally since he was first hospitalized in March. In October, he managed to pronounce the word "pain," which was the first time he had spoken after his medical coma.

Tough: Kate announced that she will no longer be able to see Derek due to new restrictions introduced during the third lockdown

Concerned: She said, "We are in lockdown, so no visits at all, which hopefully won't last for the entire lockdown because I think this will have a huge impact on Derek's condition."

While Derek continues to recover from home, Kate said she tried to be "both mom and dad" to her two children Darcey (14) and Billy (11).

The family hadn't been able to visit Derek in the hospital due to coronavirus restrictions, but the mother of two previously said the nurses kindly allowed her to provide FaceTime to him.

On New Year's Eve, Kate admitted that without her husband she had a "disastrous" Christmas that flooded her house and couldn't get a supermarket delivery point.

Kate wished her followers a Happy New Year, writing, "The last day of a year when few will be sorry to see the reverse."

Scary: Kate returned to Good Morning Britain after her festive hiatus after admitting she had a "disastrous" Christmas party on New Years Eve

Not very festive: The mother of two wrote next to a photo of her Christmas tree in an Instagram post about spending the festive season without Derek

Explaining her absence on social media, she continued, "I was silent for a while – getting through Christmas was a challenge, not with all the emotions it evokes in our strange world and nowhere to really put it – except in hope. & # 39;

“And there is still so much real hope out there. Not just with the exceptional healthcare workers and researchers who definitely have a bright light on the future. But in all the little friendliness. & # 39;

"We had a disastrous couple of days before Christmas – but we made it thanks to some wonderful people," she said.

Kate continued to thank those who helped her and their two children Darcey, 14 and Billy, 11.

"The guys at @bondconstruction who literally got on my hands and knees with me trying to get water out after we had two pipe leaks that flooded our house," she wrote.

Hopeful: Kate had previously voiced her hopes of forming a bubble with Derek and family over Christmas, but Tier 4 restrictions may have limited the option

Kate also thanked TV presenter and friend Emma Willis and Marks and Spencer & # 39; for making sure we had #gorgeousfood for our Christmas dinner when I couldn't get a delivery place anywhere, and the guys from @britishgas who phoned for hours and me helped get a fridge and freezer to put the food in. & # 39;

After Kate previously announced that her WiFi was broken in the run up to Christmas, she wrote that Sky had finally helped her fix the problem.

& # 39; The guys at @skyhelp who persuaded me to get our wifi and tv working on Christmas Eve. Your kindness and spirit are overwhelming. And everyone @itv & @global for their constant support.

"Send love and virtual hugs to everyone who has sent the messages – spreading love will bring us all a truly Happy New Year," the star concluded her reflective post.

Kate had previously voiced her hopes of forming a bubble with Derek and the family over Christmas, but the new Tier 4 precautions in London may have delayed close contact with her husband yet again.

Slow: Derek remains in critical condition but has improved marginally since he was first hospitalized in March

The star also admitted she was feeling "physically ill" about wanting to have her first Christmas without Derek since their eldest daughter Darcey was born.

"I actually feel physically ill and can feel my chest tighten at the thought of it," said Kate.

“I'm totally panic about the idea that me, Darcey and Billy are alone this Christmas and can't visit Derek due to possible restrictions.

“This huge emotional hole, and I don't know how to fill it, with no grandparents and no friends to help fill it.

& # 39; It feels like such a significant moment as all festivals are. I am in a panic, but we are in this situation because a disease is spreading that cannot be cured at the moment. & # 39;