Tom Hanks, wife Rita Wilson test positive for coronavirus in Australia

Hollywood veteran Tom Hanks and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, have revealed that they have both tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) while in Australia. The actor is currently in the country filming his next project, a biopic on Elvis Presley directed by Baz Luhrmann. Hanks plays Presley's manager Colonel Tom Parker.

The actor shared his diagnosis with fans and the world through his Instagram account. He wrote, '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.'

The 63-year-old Oscar-winning actor added, "The medical officials have protocols that must be followed. We 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?"

The untitled Hollywood film, to be distributed by Warner Bros, is in pre-production and filming was expected to begin next Monday. It is slated for release on 1 October 2021. Hanks's next film, Greyhound, is due to be released on 12 June.

Warner Bros issued a statement after the announcement of Hanks and Wilson's diagnosis. It said: "We have been made aware that a company member from our Elvis feature film, which is currently in pre-production in The Gold Coast, Australia, has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus). We are working closely with the appropriate Australian health agencies to identify and contact anyone who may have come in direct contact with the 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. The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 is currently receiving treatment."

With over 115,000 confirmed cases worldwide and more than 3,500 deaths, the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a global pandemic yesterday.