Actor Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson confirmed Wednesday that they have contracted the coronavirus.
The couple were in Australia when the diagnosis occurred, as pre-production was commencing on Hanks’ newest film, a biopic about Elvis Presley. Hanks and Wilson are currently isolated in a hospital on the Gold Coast.
“We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches,” the 63-year-old wrote in a post on his official Instagram account. “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.”
The actor concluded his Instagram post Wednesday by assuring his followers and the rest of the world that he and his wife would keep them updated on their condition. This statement was also posted to the actor’s Twitter account.
“Well, now. What to do next?” the actor continued. “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?”
Cast and crew on the biopic’s set received an email early Thursday morning instructing them to avoid the set due to a production member testing positive for the virus. Warner Bros., the studio behind the film, released a statement explaining that they were aware of the coronavirus case and are collaborating with Australian health agencies to get in touch with anyone who had direct contact with Hanks.
Anyone who had taken a picture with the actor while he was in Australia will be okay; however, those who had spent more than 15 minutes in close contact with Hanks will need to be isolated.
The premier of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, verified this on Thursday.
“People who have come in close contact with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson will now need to self-isolate and quarantine,” said Palaszczuk. “I’m very confident with the physicians that we have that will be treating Tom and his wife and like I said we wish them all the very best for a speedy recovery.”
The actor recently lent his name to a building at Wright State University. The Tom Hanks Center for Motion Pictures, which houses programs for students studying all aspects of the film industry, opened in 2016, and the actor was on hand to dedicate the building.
“With a name on the outside of a building, I like to think I got in,” said Hanks at the dedication.
He later mentioned that a student’s college of choice doesn’t matter, but “it matters how hard you work. I hope this building spurs the students who come here.”
