Grandfather’s emotional message from Covid-19 intensive care

“It’s very serious, nothing to take lightly whatsoever"

A grandfather who is in a London hospital with Covid-19 has given a powerful and emotional interview to ITV News, warning people to not take the virus lightly. Speaking from his hospital bed in an intensive care ward at St. George's Hospital, Alan Carslake said that he had been "desperately ill" for the past two weeks, and that it had left him an "emotional wreck". https://twitter.com/itvnews/status/1349804208116133889?s=20

“It’s very serious, nothing to take lightly whatsoever, and I get annoyed at people that I used to hear saying this is all a nonsense,” said Mr. Carslake, referencing the high number of people in the UK and elsewhere who continue to doubt the seriousness of the disease.

“The reality is it’s not, it’s a serious thing that’s happening here and you guys [NHS staff] are up against it.

“The likes of me, I’m grateful for whatever is being done and the NHS, I’ve got to say, they’ve been amazing.”

He revealed that while he had been extremely ill, he is on the mend, and that the prospect of being reunited with his family has helped him stay strong.

“I felt desperately ill the past two weeks, I’ve come out the other side and it’s emotionally wrecking my head,” he said.

“But I’ve got to stay strong, I’ve got family, I’ve got grandkids, I’ve got everything happening.”

This week, the United Kingdom passed 100,000 coronavirus deaths, with Wednesday's death toll of 1,854 the highest daily number of the pandemic so far.