Tom Hanks And His Wife Update Fans On Coronavirus Plans: Sheltering In Place And Social Distancing

Mar 31, 2020 by apost team

Following a positive COVID-19 diagnosis earlier this month and a week-long period of isolation in an Australian hospital, Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson returned to their home in Los Angeles last Friday. 

As soon as the couple was back stateside, Hanks announced the couple’s return to fans on Twitter in a short statement.

“Many, many thanks to everyone in Australia who looked after us,” Hanks said in the post. “Their care and guidance made possible our return to the USA. And many thanks to all of you who reached out with well wishes. Rita and I so appreciate it. Hanx.”

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Both Hanks and Wilson tested positive for COVID-19 in early March, becoming among the first international celebrities to have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, according to The Los Angeles Times. The 63-year-old actor was in Australia to film Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic, though production of Luhrmann’s film was postponed a few days after the diagnosis. The onset of the virus presented with mild symptoms for Hanks and Wilson. Hanks followed up in a more detailed post on Instagram, writing that the two had experienced a slight fever, chills and other cold-like symptoms.

Eventually the celebrity couple announced their move into self-isolation in Australia after being discharged from the hospital on March 13, emphasizing their gratitude for the health workers on the front lines of the virus and encouraging others to take care of each other. Thanking health care workers became a theme of Hanks’ largely positive posts.

Throughout the ordeal, the couple also made sure to keep concerned fans abreast of the situation with updates via social media. In a video that fans viewed nearly 2 million times, Wilson caused a sensation with a musical Instagram video she captioned “Quarantine Stir Crazy” in which she raps to Naughty by Nature’s Hip Hop Hooray.

In another highly successful if not strangely controversial post, Hanks thanked healthcare workers on Twitter and Instagram, posting his thank you along with a photo of a glass of water alongside two pieces of toast spread with vegemite — the savory spread made from concentrated yeast extract that is popular in Australia. For some, Hanks had just put a bit too much vegemite. In a Twitter reply, Australian writer Jane Caro lightly chided the American actor, writing: “Dear Tom, that’s lovely but you spread the vegemite way too thick! The secret to vegemite toast is 1/3 vegemite to 2/3 butter maximum! And add smashed avocado for extra awesomeness.”

Despite the extra silliness and Hanks’ good sense of humor throughout the ordeal, Hanks also made sure to use his large following on social media to post a little PSA, encouraging his fans to hang in there, shelter in place and avoid contact with others.

“Sheltering in place works like this: You don’t give it to anyone - You don’t get it from anyone. Common sense, no? Going to take awhile, but if we take care of each other, help where we can and give up some comforts...this, too, shall pass.”

We're glad that Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are back home safe. Did you follow Tom Hanks' updates while he was ill and under quarantine? Let us know and share this with friends and family members.