Egyptian singer Enas Ezz Eldeen has announced she has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The former Arab Idol contestant, who was speaking from home where she is under self-quarantine, gave a detailed account of her experience in a lengthy Facebook live video on Sunday, March 29, in the hope of encouraging fans to take the unfolding pandemic seriously.
“I know that there are people who think that this is only just a cold or something along those lines,” she said. “I am telling you this is something more serious and I encourage to obey the directives of our health authorities.”
Ezz Eldeen says she began experiencing symptoms nearly 10 days after arriving from Morocco, where she performed a concert on March 9. She stated she later learnt that a passenger on the plane had the virus and failed to declare it to the Moroccan authorities.
When it came to her own symptoms, Ezz Eldeen said they included a high temperature and dry coughing.
"I began to heat up and my temperature approached 38 degrees and only increasing," she said. "Also my heart began to beat very fast and I was short of breath and then the dry cough I was having begun to really increase."
Concerned at her worsening condition, she called the hotline for one of the health authorities and went in to hospital where she tested positive for Covid-19.
While thanking family and fans for their support, Ezz Eldeen implored the public to seek medical advice if experiencing any symptoms. She blamed some of the hysterical social media discussions surrounding the virus for deterring people from getting tested.
"We need to stop this. Some of the things that are being said is that if you have the virus then, that's it, you are dead," Ezz Eldeen said. "I urge to not make people so scared that they don't go and report their condition. Be in control of your nerves."
Ezz Eldeen’s plea is part of the greater Egyptian entertainment industry’s drive to raise awareness among the public regarding the coronavirus.
They include the high profile Tahady Al Khair charity campaign, in which celebrities pledge to financially support families who have lost income due to obeying the government directives to stay home, as a health precaution against the virus.
Celebrities involved include singer Tamer Hosny and actress Ghada Abdel Razak, with each pledging to support 400 and 100 families each, respectively.
