US singer and songwriter, Madonna Ciccone, has confirmed that she contracted COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by coronavirus, while on her ‘Madame X’ tour in March.

Madonna

The tour, which was between February 20 and March 11 in France, was cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

In an Instagram post, the pop diva said she had the coronavirus during the end of her Paris leg of the tour but she is “healthy and well” now.

The songwriter-cum actress also explained that she had initially thought it was a “very bad flu” when she tested positive for anti-bodies, not knowing she had contracted COVID-19.

According to her, the clarification became necessary to dismiss unsubstantiated claims making the rounds about her health.

The 61-year-old music star also posted a published article about her donation of $1.1 million to support global efforts aimed at finding a lasting vaccine for the treatment of the killer virus.

“I’m grateful that I can be a part of supporting research to find the cure for COVID -19!! And just to clear things up for people who would rather believe sensationalist headlines than do their own research about the nature of this virus—I am not currently sick,” she wrote.

“When you test positive for anti-bodies it means you had the virus which I clearly did as I was sick at the end of my tour in Paris over 7 weeks ago along with many other artists in my show but at the time. We all thought we had a very bad flu.

“Thank God we are all healthy and well now. Hope that clears things up for the band wagon jumpers!! Knowledge is Power! #covid19.”

Scientists have remained divided in their opinions as to whether or not antibody tests are sufficient to determine if someone has contracted the virus.