Prominent Egyptian film critic Tarek El-Shennawy has announced on Tuesday that he tested positive for COVID-19 amid concerns over the third wave of the pandemic in the country.

“My journey with the quarantine has just started,” stated El-Shennawy, who is among the country’s most acclaimed critics, requesting the public's prayers for a speedy recovery.

El-Shennawy adds to a list of other cases announced this week in the artistic scene, which include popular acting couple Ahmed Khaled Saleh and Hanady Hani Mehanna, who are both participating in TV series for the Ramadan season.

The authorities are applying strict safety measures against the coonovirus as President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi announced earlier in the week that the country is on the threshold of a third wave in the pandemic.

Egypt's health ministry reported 463 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing the total infection toll nationwide to 196,061 since the emergence of the pandemic in early 2020.

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