Egyptians blame film festival as virus rates rise

As a small number of attendees of the El-Gouna Film Festival report coming down with COVID-19, many Egyptians demanded that organizers Naguib and Samih Sawiris be held accountable.
Egyptian actress Basma Hassan poses prior to walking the red carpet for the screening of the film "Mica", on the fourth day of 4th edition of the Gouna Film Festival, in El-Gouna, Egypt on October 26, 2020. (Photo by Ammar Abd Rabbo / El Gouna Film Festival / AFP) / XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / EL GOUNA FILM FESTIVAL / AMMAR ABD RABBO - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of t
Egyptian actress Basma Hassan poses prior to walking the red carpet for the screening of the film "Mica", on the fourth day of the El-Gouna Film Festival in El-Gouna, Egypt, on Oct. 26, 2020. - AMMAR ABD RABBO/El Gouna Film Festival/AFP via Getty Images
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A correspondent in Egypt

CAIRO — Nine Egyptian artists have recovered from the novel coronavirus as of Nov. 15 after having contracted it during the El-Gouna Film Festival, held in the city of el-Gouna on the Red Sea coast from Oct. 23-31.

Social media users accused the producers, brothers Naguib and Samih Sawiris and other business people, of risking a second wave of the virus for the sake of profit and fame.

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