Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for coronavirus.
The couple were in Australia for pre-production of Baz Luhrmann’s new Elvis Presley film, in which Hanks is set to play the role of Presley’s manager Colonel Tom Parker.
According to Australian health officials, Hanks and Wilson are believed to have contracted the virus in the U.S. or while in transit to Australia. The couple had been in Australia for less than a week. They’re now being quarantined in a hospital on the Gold Coast.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Hanks said he and Wilson “felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the Coronavirus, and were found to be positive.”
Hanks continued, “Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks’ will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no? We’ll keep the world posted and updated.”
Update: In a new update posted to Instagram, Hanks wrote: “We are taking it one-day-at-a-time. There are things we can all do to get through this by following the advice of experts and taking care of ourselves and each other, no?” To conclude his remarks, Hanks made a reference to his movie A League of Their Own, writing: “Remember, despite all the current events, there is no crying in baseball.”
In a separate statement issued by Warner Bros., the studio said, “We are working closely with the appropriate Australian health agencies to identify and contact anyone who may have come in direct contact with the individual. The health and safety of our company members is always our top priority, and we are taking precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world.”
To date, over 125,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed across the world, with 4,633 resulting in death. The number of cases is growing rapidly by the hour, leading to the cancelation of many prominent cultural events and the postponement of several major Hollywood productions. You can stay up to date on the latest developments here.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Test Positive for Coronavirus [Updated]
Alex Young
