Veteran Egyptian actress Ragaa Al-Giddawy has reassured her wide fan base across the Arab world that her health is improving after it was revealed two days ago that she was infected with coronavirus.

"Ragaa Al-Giddawy's physical case is reassuring," stated Egypt's state TV presenter Wael El-Ebrashi on Saturday, confirming during his prime-time show that he personally spoke to her.

"I have just spoken to her and she is better. She thanks all of you. Hope she gets well soon," said famous TV presenter Bossy Shalaby through Instagram, while the actress herself was quoted later by local newspapers confirming she is better.

Al-Giddawy's coronavirus infection has been one of the main topics on social media in Egypt after reports circulated that she was moved to Abou Khalifa quarantine hospital in Ismailia, and many artists have shown solidarity with the actress.

With Egypt recording around 17,000 positive COVID-19 cases and 764 deaths, many users on social media have joined in prayers and sympathy, while others have complained about her case being prioritised over others, amid an ongoing wave of angry complaints from the Doctors' Syndicate due to the increase in infections among health workers.

Al-Giddawy's infection has also stirred concern in the entertainment scene, as she just finished shooting her part in Le'bet El-Nesyan (Game of Oblivion), and she closely interacted with members of the Ramadan season TV series' big crew.

Written by Tamer Habib's team and directed by Ahmed Shafiq, the big cast of Le'bet El-Nesyan includes Dina El-Sherbiny, Ahmed Dawoud, Ingy El-Mokadem, Mahmoud Qabil and others, some of whom interacted with crew members of other Ramadan series.

Some news channels have reported that El-Sherbiny isolated herself in precautionary quarantine after Al-Giddawy’s infection. The 35-year-old famous actress is the spouse of mega pop star Amr Diab. Dawoud's wife is actress Ola Roshdy, who was among the big squad of the successful Kamla Abu Zekri's comedy 'B-100 Wesh' (With 100 Faces).

Ragaa Al-Giddawy, who is turning 82 on 6 September, is a popular actress, TV presenter and public personality, appearing in hundreds of notable films, theatre plays and TV shows throughout a fruitful six-decade career, collaborating with almost all of the country's best writers, directors and actors of successive generations.

Her popularity reached the recognition of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, who in late 2018 praised Al-Giddawy warmly during a special-needs event she took part in, saying "God bless you. You will always remain très chic, in not only your clothing, but in everything" and she replied in tears that it was "her best medal ever."

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