Tom Hanks and Wife Rita Wilson Test Positive for Coronavirus

By Danielle Ong First Posted: Mar 11, 2020 11:26 PM EDT

(Photo : Reuters/Monica Almeida)

Production for an untitled Elvis Presley movie from Warner Bros. was paused after Tom Hanks announced he tested positive for coronavirus.

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Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the Coronavirus, and were found to be positive. Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks’ will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no? We’ll keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves! Hanx! A post shared by Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) on Mar 11, 2020 at 6:08pm PDT

In a personal Instagram post, the Elvis movie actor announced he and his wife, Jingle All The Way actress Rita Wilson, were infected with COVID-19 on Wednesday.

The virus originated from China and has now affected more than 126,000 people worldwide was recently labeled a 'pandemic' by the World Health Organization.

The married couple, both 63, was staying in Australia for the Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley movie production.

The Toy Story actor shared he and his wife will follow proper health protocols and will observe isolation as required.

A Warner Bros. spokesperson confirmed production was halted due to a coronavirus case of a "company member." The studio did not reveal how many were working with Hanks during pre-production.

The film's cast included Austin Butler (as Elvis Presley), Tom Hanks (Colonel Tom Parker), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Gladys Presley), Rufus Sewell (Vernon Presley), and Olivia DeJonge (Priscilla Presley).

The studio said they are working closely with Australian authorities to identify anyone who may have come into close contact with the infected individual.

"The health and safety of our company members is always our top priority, and we are taking precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world."

Rita Wilson

Wilson attended a Women's Cancer Research Fund's event on February 28. During a red carpet interview, she said she avoided air kisses and hugs as a cautionary measure against coronavirus.

The event took place after Wilson postponed her concerts on US Military bases on South Korea due to the outbreak in the country.

Related: How to Find Out if You are Positive for the Novel Coronavirus

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences also canceled events amid the alarming increase in coronavirus cases.

The decision was released the same day WHO declared the virus as "pandemic". Officials from the World Health Organization said they hope countries will pull out all the stops to contain and resolve the growing number of COVID-19 cases.

Coronavirus-related deaths in the US climbed to 31 on Wednesday. The country now has more than 1,000 confirmed cases with health agencies expecting more to come.

A recent report said there are over 126,293 coronavirus cases across 114 countries. 4,291 people have reportedly died from a global health threat.

Other companies and events postponed or canceled plans following the coronavirus crisis. A list from a media site included::