Movie Actor Tom Hanks and Spouse Test Positive for COVID-19... "Quarantined in Australia"

"We showed symptoms of fatigue and muscle pain as if we had caught a cold"

Actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson attended the Academy Awards ceremony held on the 9th of last month at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, USA. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads worldwide, famous Hollywood actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have announced that they tested positive for COVID-19.

Tom Hanks, who is visiting Australia for a film shoot, posted on his Instagram on the 12th (local time), "We are currently in Australia. My wife and I were tested for COVID-19 and both tested positive."

He explained, "We experienced symptoms like fatigue and muscle aches similar to a cold, and in Rita's case, chills and fever also appeared."

He added, "Following the medical staff's protocol, we will be tested and quarantined. I will keep you updated. Everyone, please take care of your health."

Tom Hanks is currently playing the role of manager Tom Parker in a biographical film about Elvis Presley directed by Baz Luhrmann. According to The New York Times, the film was scheduled to begin shooting in Australia on the 16th.

Regarding this, the film production company Warner Bros. released a statement saying, "The health and safety of our employees is always our top priority," and "We are taking preventive measures to protect everyone involved in the film production."

Meanwhile, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 9 a.m. that day, the number of confirmed cases outside China was 12,462 in Italy, 2,281 in France, 2,140 in Spain, 1,567 in Germany, 706 on the Japan cruise ship, and 112 in Australia.

Earlier, on the 11th, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing held at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, "Pandemic is not a word to be used lightly or carelessly," adding, "If misused, it can cause irrational fear or unnecessary suffering and death through unjustified acceptance that the war is over."

He continued, "Describing the current situation as a pandemic does not change WHO's assessment of the threat posed by COVID-19," and "It does not change what WHO is doing or what countries should do."