Update: Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson have been released from the hospital, according to a report from CNN. The couple was treated in isolation for coronavirus at the Queensland Hospital in Australia, where Hanks was in pre-production for Baz Luhrmann's new Elvis Presley film. They are reportedly self-isolating in a rented house in Australia for the time being, per The Hollywood Reporter. Refinery29 reached out for comment.
This story was originally published on Monday, March 16, at 9:30 a.m.
Amid the severity of the coronavirus pandemic across the world, Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, who were both diagnosed with the virus and are weathering the storm the best they can. The two actors, who are currently in Australia, are among the many people quarantined but have remained active on social media to make sure everyone knows they’re hanging in there. We expect nothing less of one of Hollywood’s favourite couples.
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Hanks, ever the bright and shining star that he is, shared a photo on Twitter on March 15 thanking his “helpers” during his time in quarantine — including a stuffed kangaroo and some Vegemite on toast. If Hanks thanking stuffed animals doesn’t scream Mr. Rogers and put a little smile on your face, then we don’t know what would.
Thanks to the Helpers. Let’s take care of ourselves and each other. Hanx pic.twitter.com/09gCdvzGcO
— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) March 15, 2020
And if that wasn’t convincing enough that Hanks is still one of the greatest humans, New York Times writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner tweeted on March 15 that she reached out to him to check on him. She said he “didn't want to talk on the record because he's wary of spreading misinformation or false hope or dread,” which is incredibly responsible and the most Tom Hanks response ever. Instead, Brodesser-Akner shared her interview with Hanks from late last year, which you can listen to on NYT’s The Daily podcast.
And after multiple people asked her on Twitter how he’s doing, she replied, “He didn't want to talk! He talked about my book instead. Because he's Tom Hanks!” Even with coronavirus running rampant and keeping him in quarantine, Hanks remains a caring and lovely person.
I reached out to Tom Hanks to see how he was doing, but, determined to be the only person showing sound leadership in this crisis, he didn't want to talk on the record because he's wary of spreading misinformation or false hope or dread. So we did the (far) next best thing: 1/3
— Taffy Brodesser-Akner (@taffyakner) March 15, 2020
Wilson is keeping the fun, too, asking her Twitter followers to send her song recommendations for a quarantine-friendly playlist that she then turned into Rita Wilson’s Quarantunes. Quarantunes! We’re relieved to see that she and Hanks are handling this so well.
Hi guys!I want to make a @Spotify playlist for people self quarantining.Something that might relate to isolation, perhaps? Can you send some song ideas that I can add?Also, what should we call it?Quarantine Choruses? This is what one does in quarantine.Uthink of stuff like this.
— Rita Wilson (@RitaWilson) March 13, 2020
So, with all your fab suggestions, here’s the fan based Rita Wilson Quarantunes playlist on @Spotify https://t.co/uQlAmB30Fl
— Rita Wilson (@RitaWilson) March 13, 2020
Not long after Hanks announced on Instagram that he and Wilson had tested positive for COVID-19, two of their children, Chet and Colin, shared updates of their own that their parents were handling the diagnosis the best they could and were staying positive. It’s Tom Hanks, though, so are we really surprised that he’s remaining upbeat and handling this like it’s no big thing? We can just imagine Hanks and Wilson hunkered down in Australia jamming to her Quarantunes while they kick coronavirus to the curb. And we’re also hoping Hanks’ stuffed kangaroo helper is doing his job and nursing these two back to health!
COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic. Go to the Public Health Agency of Canada website for the latest information on symptoms, prevention, and other resources.
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