Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
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Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Test Positive for Coronavirus

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Rachel Leishman
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Published: Mar 12, 2020 12:26 pm

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In a shocking twist that made things feel a lot more real for many, after repeated attempts at a blasé reaction from some of our government officials, the first celebrity to come down with coronavirus (that we know of) was a two-fer. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson announced that they came down with COVID-19 while in Australia. The thing is: Prior to this, Coronavirus was something that, in theory, many were aware of but were not taking seriously, and unfortunately, it took celebrities coming down with it to put things in perspective for many.

Taking to social media to post, Hanks revealed that he and wife Rita Wilson contracted COVID-19 while traveling in Australia and, because the Australian government is clearly taking everything infinitely more seriously than the American government, the two were quickly tested, and the tests came back positive.

I think part of the reason why people are so upset that Coronavirus hit Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson is that … Tom Hanks is easily the one celebrity that everyone loves without question. From watching Big and his movies as kids to still loving him now, he’s our new Mr. Rogers. Literally, he was just nominated for playing Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

So, to see that coronavirus doesn’t care—that it will infect even our own National Treasure Tom Hanks? It really thrust the seriousness of the situation into the eyes of Americans who have been getting mixed messages on what to think—which isn’t a great thing to begin with, but at least their love of Tom Hanks is making them take coronavirus seriously now.

Twitter, though, was filled with well wishes for Hanks and Wilson, and many were ready and willing to take on coronavirus in their honor.

All the well wishes for Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, and hopefully they come out of this healthy. I’m just glad that people are really starting to take it seriously and hate that it took Tom Hanks getting sick for people to do that. There are many vulnerable people out there at much higher risk who could’ve used our attention and preventive measures before things got to this point.

(image: Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

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Image of Rachel Leishman
Rachel Leishman
Rachel Leishman (She/Her) is an Assistant Editor at the Mary Sue. She's been a writer professionally since 2016 but was always obsessed with movies and television and writing about them growing up. A lover of Spider-Man and Wanda Maximoff's biggest defender, she has interests in all things nerdy and a cat named Benjamin Wyatt the cat. If you want to talk classic rock music or all things Harrison Ford, she's your girl but her interests span far and wide. Yes, she knows she looks like Florence Pugh. She has multiple podcasts, normally has opinions on any bit of pop culture, and can tell you can actors entire filmography off the top of her head. Her current obsession is Glen Powell's dog, Brisket. Her work at the Mary Sue often includes Star Wars, Marvel, DC, movie reviews, and interviews.
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