Facebook Twitter
Thursday, November 30, 2023 | 
Entertainment Coronavirus

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are back in the United States. Here’s what they’re doing next

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson had been in Australia

By Herb Scribner Herb Scribnerhscribner@deseretnews.com
SHARE Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are back in the United States. Here’s what they’re doing next
In this Feb. 9, 2020 file photo, Tom Hanks, left, and Rita Wilson arrive at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The couple have tested positive for the coronavirus, the actor said in a statement Wednesday, March 11. The 63-year-old actor said they will be “tested, observed and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires.” (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

In this Feb. 9, 2020 file photo, Tom Hanks, left, and Rita Wilson arrive at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The couple have tested positive for the coronavirus, the actor said in a statement Wednesday, March 11. The 63-year-old actor said they will be “tested, observed and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires.” (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

Jordan Strauss, Invision via Associated Press

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have returned stateside after spending time in Australia, where they were both diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.

What’s happening:

  • Tom Hanks issued a statement over the weekend saying he and his wife, Rita Wilson, have returned home.
  • The couple will now practice social distancing and will shelter in place like health experts have asked people to do.
  • Hanks said: “Hey, Folks ... We’re home now and, like the rest of America, we carry on with sheltering in place and social distancing. Many, many thanks to everyone in Australia who looked after us. 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.”

  • According to Entertainment Weekly, the married couple was recently driving through Los Angeles about two weeks after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • Hanks and Wilson also previously released a statement explaining social distancing.
  • The statement said: “Sheltering in place works like this: You don’t give it to anyone — You don’t get it from anyone. Common sense, no?” he wrote. “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 can figure this out.”

Context:

  • Hanks and Wilson had been visiting Australia for pre-production of an Elvis Presley biopic, in which Hanks will play Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
  • News about Hanks’ diagnosis broke on the same night it was revealed Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert had also been diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • Since then, Hanks’ sons Colin and Chet Hanks have shared updates about their parents. Rita Wilson has also been active on social media, sharing a quarantine playlist. Hanks even went viral for eating vegemite — a lot of it.