Last week, the world was shocked when Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks revealed that he and his wife Rita Wilson had tested positive for coronavirus. Now, the actor’s sister Sandra Hanks Benoiton shared an update about his battle against coronavirus, and what she said has some fans worried.
Tom Hanks’ Sister Gives Health Update
Sandra Hanks Benoiton told Daily Mail in an exclusive interview that her brother is “not great, but still okay”. Hanks and his wife remain in self-isolation in Australia, where he was filming a movie before his diagnosis. Hanks revealed earlier this week that he was discharged from the hospital and moved into a private home with his wife to self-isolate.
“I have communicated with my brother. He’s not great, but still okay. [Am I] shocked? No. He’s an actor, not a god [but] medical care in Australia is good,” Hanks’ sister said.
Sandra, who is Hanks’ oldest sibling, is currently on lockdown in Italy, where she moved in 2016. In her exclusive interview, she expressed hopes that both the U.S. and U.K. remain positive in the face of this crisis.
“We’re okay here… staying home is fine with us, and this community is wonderful,” she said. “I’m lucky to be here, the spirit of the people is amazing! The US and the UK are failing miserably, however.”
When asked what it’s like being in Italy during this shutdown, Sandra said, “I’m in Pordenone province, about an hour north of Venice. The lockdown is until April 3 … so far. We’ll see what happens next.”
Tom Hanks Personally Updates Fans On His Condition
Hanks’ sister Sandra’s update comes nearly a week after the actor posted a photo of himself with wife Rita Wilson to give fans a quick update on their condition.
“Hello folks. Rita Wilson and I want to thank everyone here Down Under who are taking such good care of us. We have Covid-19 and are in isolation so we do not spread it to anyone else,” Hanks wrote. “There are those for whom it could lead to a very serious illness. We are taking it one-day-at-a-time. There are things we can all do to get through this by following the advice of experts and taking care of ourselves and each other, no?”
Prior to that, both their sons took to social media with updates on their parents’ condition. Chet Hanks’ update came via a shirtless Instagram video.
FULL STORY: Tom Hanks’ Sons Post Video Update On Their Dad’s Coronavirus Diagnosis
Chet hasn’t been in the spotlight like older brother Colin Hanks, known for roles in CBS’ “Life In Pieces”, “Fargo” the TV series, and the 2005 reboot of King Kong.
White House Confusion Over Hanks’ Health
There are reports circulating that allege the White House went into a state of confusion over the weekend after officials were told that Hanks had been “discharged.”
President Donald Trump reportedly took this to mean that Hanks had died. Reportedly, the President was preparing to announce the actor’s death on Twitter when the misconception was corrected.
Tom Hanks was the first major Hollywood star to announce he was coronavirus positive. His announcement was followed by several other celebrities and public figures. The early list included “Luther” star Idris Elba and Quantum of Solace star Olga Kurylenko.
This just goes to show that the rich and famous are just as vulnerable to coronavirus as the rest of us. It’s also a stark reminder that we all need to stay vigilant in the face of this unprecedented crisis.
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