The Opera House and Today Extra: What we know about Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson's Australian trip.

Hollywood actors, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, have officially been diagnosed with coronavirus.

The Oscar winner confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Thursday morning.

“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,” wrote Hanks.

“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?”

How to protect yourself from COVID-19, according to the World Health Organisation. Post continues below.

It’s believed Hanks and Wilson, both 63, arrived on the Gold Coast sometime in early March and travelled around high-traffic locations in Sydney. The actor was in the country filming of Baz Luhrmann’s untitled Elvis Presley feature and the cast and crew have since been instructed to avoid the set. Meanwhile, Hanks and Wilson are recovering and in isolation at a Gold Coast hospital.

In light of their diagnosis, this is everything we know about their trip in Australia and how they came into contact with the disease.

So, how did they contract coronavirus?

It’s believed they may have previously contracted the disease elsewhere.

Queensland Health officials state seven new cases of the disease were reported on Thursday and they were all from patients who “contracted the illness outside Australia and travelled to Queensland with the virus”. This would have included Hanks and Wilson.

Speaking to media, Queensland Health Director-General John Wakefield made a light-handed reference to the couple stating that, “whether you’re from Hollywood or Helensvale, you will get great care in our healthcare system and we will look after you”.

The Gold Coast

Judging from their Instagram, Hanks and Wilson arrived in Australia on Wednesday, March 4, the day before Wilson’s Brisbane show, A Night with Rita Wilson. The concert took place at the ballroom of the Emporium Hotel to a sold-out audience. Hanks was also present.

Speaking to The Courier Mail, the hotel’s General Manager, Charles Martin, confirmed extensive cleaning and hygiene precautions had been taken since the announcement.

“Following today’s announcement, we have taken active steps to brief our staff on this matter, and extra hygiene precautions were already in place since the first international outbreak of coronavirus in January,” he said.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Beautiful Brisbane!!! Thank you SO MUCH for the warmest welcome at my show!!! You sold it out, danced in the aisles, sang along! Thank you!!!! This photo was taken from @emporiumhotels The beauty of your city is matched by the warmth of your people.

A post shared by Rita Wilson (@ritawilson) on Mar 5, 2020 at 5:19pm PST

Sydney

While in Sydney, Wilson also performed a show at the Utzon room at the Sydney Opera House on March 7, to an audience of 203 people.

The couple were also spotted taking selfies and photographs with fans at popular locations like Sydney’s Bondi Beach and the Gold Coast’s Coolangatta Beach.

 

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A post shared by Micah Warzywak (@micahwarz) on Feb 3, 2020 at 12:29am PST

Despite this, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told media that this brief interaction should not pose a risk to fans.

“People who have come in very close contact with him in recent days and what they will do now is our experts will work very closely with him, with Baz and all of the cast and crew and then they will self-isolate of those people who have been in that close proximity,” she said on Thursday.

“From what the chief health officer has told me it’s over 15 minutes of being in close proximity. A selfie wouldn’t count as that.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Oh, @Sydney You are beautiful and @sydneyoperahouse you made a dream come true tonight. Performing at this iconic place is unlike any other. And, the warmth of the audience made me feel so welcome. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

A post shared by Rita Wilson (@ritawilson) on Mar 7, 2020 at 4:26am PST

Today Extra

Wilson also made an appearance at the Today Extra studios in Sydney’s Martin Place, where she did a live performance and interview with hosts, David Campbell and Belinda Russell.

This took place on Monday, a few days before she was diagnosed with coronavirus.

As a precautionary measure, Campbell has been asked to self-isolate, while A Current Affair host, Tracy Grimshaw has also been asked to take a break from the program. The presenter underwent minor surgery last week and it’s believed Wilson had her hair and makeup done in the same room that Grimshaw uses as her dressing room. Entertainment Editor, Richard Wilkins, and other staff members who were in contact with Wilson will also be taking a few days off, as reported by news.com.au.

 

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Hey @ritawilson thanks for coming on our show and singing!

A post shared by David Campbell (@davidcampbell73) on Mar 8, 2020 at 8:27pm PDT

While Wilson remained in Sydney, Hanks had returned to the Gold Coast for pre-production for the Elvis Presley feature which began on Monday, March 12.

According to a statement from the production company, action is being taken to ensure medical attention will be given to those who were in close contact with Hanks and any other infected individuals.

“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,” they 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 individual who tested positive for Covid-19 is currently receiving treatment.”

Featured image: Instagram @ritawilson.