Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Test Positive for COVID-19

Actor Tom Hanks has revealed that he and his wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the most high-profile individuals to announce their diagnosis to date. Their announcement coincides with the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declaring the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

The actor has been on the Gold Coast in Australia since late January preparing to film a Baz Luhrmann biopic on Elvis Presley, in which he portrays Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Meanwhile, his wife Rita, an actress and singer, performed at the Sydney Opera House on 8 March and the Emporium Hotel in Brisbane on 6 March. The couple sought medical advice in Queensland after experiencing symptoms resembling a cold, including tiredness, body aches, and, in Rita’s case, chills and slight fevers. In an Instagram post, Hanks stated, “To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the coronavirus and were found to be positive.”

Both aged 63, Hanks and Wilson are currently in isolation in the hospital, although their son Chet shared a video reassuring fans that they are doing well. It is crucial to note that not everyone infected with the virus requires hospitalization. Tom, however, has a history of type 2 diabetes diagnosed in 2013, making him more vulnerable to severe complications from COVID-19. Hanks mentioned, “We Hanks will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety require. We’ll keep the world posted and updated.”

The actor’s diagnosis came shortly before WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. In a media briefing, director-general Tedros Adhanom expressed deep concern about both the alarming levels of spread and severity of the virus, as well as the levels of inaction. “We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus,” he noted, adding, “And we have never seen a pandemic that can be controlled at the same time.”

As of 16:00 CET on 15 March, there were 153,648 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 5,746 deaths reported in 146 countries or territories. Notably, China has recorded 81,048 cases, Italy has reported 21,157 cases, and Iran has 12,729 cases. Additional numbers include 8,162 cases in Korea, 5,753 in Spain, 4,469 in France, and 3,795 cases in Germany.

In the US, the latest figures show 1,678 cases of COVID-19. In response, President Donald Trump announced a 30-day ban on most travel from Europe to the US, effective from Friday, 13 March. He stated, “This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history. I am confident that by taking these tough measures, we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens and ultimately, expediently defeat this virus.”

You can check out the WHO’s rolling updates on the spread of COVID-19 here.

Keep Updated on COVID-19 Developments

For the latest travel-related news and updates on COVID-19, visit iBestTravel’s COVID-19 section.