Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for coronavirus

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have both tested positive for the COVID-19 virus (Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images)Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have both tested positive for the COVID-19 virus (Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have both tested positive for the COVID-19 virus (Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

Tom Hanks has revealed that he and his wife, Rita Wilson, have both been tested positive for coronavirus in Australia.

Their diagnosis comes after Australian officials confirmed over 100 cases of the virus, as well as three deaths.

The announcement

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Taking to Instagram, the actor posted an image of a disposable plastic glove in a yellow contamination bin with the caption explaining the situation.

Hanks wrote, “Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We 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 for the world right now, we were tested for the Coronavirus, and were found to be positive.

“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?”

The post ended with Hanks saying that he would “keep the world posted and updated” and that everyone should take care of themselves.

‘Not even that sick’

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The couple’s oldest son, Chet, posted a video to his Instagram account talking about the news. Sitting in front of the camera, Chet opened the video saying, “Yeah, it’s true, my parents got coronavirus, it’s crazy.”

He goes on to say that he had just gotten off the phone with his mum and dad, saying that they both “are fine”.

“They’re not even that sick, they’re not worried about it, they’re not tripping, but they’re going through the necessary health precautions,” Chet explains in the video.

“I don’t think it’s anything to be too worried about, I appreciate everyone’s concern and the well wishes, but I think it’s all going to be alright.”

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Chet ended the video by saying, “Everybody stay safe out there, much love.”

Filming in Australia

Hanks and Wilson, both 63, were on the Gold Coast in Australia due to Hanks’ role in an upcoming biopic film about Elvis Presley. A week prior, Wilson had also performed a one night only event at the Brisbane Emporium Hotel on Thursday 5 March, singing songs from her new album.

In the Elvis film, Hanks will be portraying Colonel Tom Parker, Presley's manager. The untitled project is helmed by Moulin Rouge and Great Gatsby director, Baz Lurhmann, and was initially planned for release in early October in 2021.

However, with the news of the Oscar winning actor’s diagnosis, production on the project has been halted by Warner Bros.

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A Warner Bros spokesperson said in a statement, “We have been made aware that a company member from our Elvis feature film, which is currently in pre-production in The Gold Coast, Australia, has tested positive for COVID-19.

“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.”

The statement said that “the individual” who tested positive for the virus is “currently receiving treatment”.