According to a report in Deadline, beloved actor Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, have both tested positive for the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19.
The couple was reportedly in Australia for pre-production of Baz Luhrmann's untitled Elvis Presley film from Warner Bros in which Hanks plays Colonel Tom Park, the longtime manager for Presley.
According to a statement from Hanks posted to his Instagram account, he and his wife felt a "bit tired" and that they would be isolated for "as long as public health and safety requires."
“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 in 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?
We’ll keep the world posted and updated.
Take care of yourselves!” – Tom Hanks
Warner Bros. also issued a separate 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 (coronavirus).
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 individual who tested positive for COVID-19 is currently receiving treatment.”
The news comes as the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest figures, more than 1,300 people have tested positive for the virus in the United States, with 38 people having passed away from the disease.
To keep up to date on the latest news about the coronavirus and to understand what you need to stay safe and healthy, check out the Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction podcast from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
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