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KATE Garraway's son was pulled out of school to self-isolate after his school classmate tested positive for coronavirus.

The 54-year-old told how Billy, 11, was at home last week where his dad is recovering from the disease that kept him in hospital for a year.

Kate Garraway with her son Billy
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Kate Garraway with her son Billy

It comes as Government figures revealed more than one million children in England were out of school last week due to the pandemic.

One in every seven pupils were out of lessons, with the majority forced to self-isolate because a classmate had tested positive.

On today's Good Morning Britain, Kate said: "Billy was one of them last week.

"One of his band tested positive, so to be safe they were all at home."

She added cheekily: "I mean he wasn't heartbroken...

"But then [her daughter] Darcey is a totally different view."

Billy's dad Derek, 53, returned to the family home from hospital in April over a year after falling seriously ill with coronavirus.

He is now conscious, but Kate recently said the illness has "devastated" him and left him unable to move.

In her new book The Power of Hope, Kate revealed how Derek's neurologist, known as Dr W, told her "there is very little chance of him making a meaningful recovery".

Dr W admitted he had never seen a case like Derek's, so he found it hard to predict an outcome for him.

The former political adviser spent months in a coma and the effects of the virus ravaged his organs.

On multiple occasions Kate was told to expect the worst, and Derek's heart has stopped on more than once.

The GMB presenter replaced Susanna Reid on today's show with Ben Shephard
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The GMB presenter replaced Susanna Reid on today's show with Ben ShephardCredit: GMB
Kate's husband Derek with their children Darcey and Billy
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Kate's husband Derek with their children Darcey and BillyCredit: Rex
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