Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson tested positive for coronavirus during their stay at Australia for a film project, the Oscar-winning US actor confirmed on Thursday.
Hanks and Wilson, both 63 years of age, were kept in isolation in a hospital on the Gold Coast in eastern Australia after being confirmed with the infection, according to Queensland state health officials.
“Hello folks, Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches,” Hanks wrote in a statement posted to Instagram.
“To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the coronavirus, and were found to be positive,” he said.
“We Hanks will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires,” he said.
“We’ll keep the world posted and updated,” he added, and attached a photo of a surgical glove put inside a biohazard trash bag.
Hanks is the first Hollywood star to publicly admit he has contracted the virus that is spreading across the world.
He has also said that he struggles with type 2 diabetes, which is considered an extra risk factor for those diagnosed with the infection.
Over 130 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Australia, so far. Three people have died in the country from the disease.
