Tom Hanks has spoken about his Covid 19 disease and symptoms such as "debilitating pain". But he was not afraid of the disease.
Oscar winner Tom Hanks (63, "Forrest Gump") and actress Rita Wilson (63, "Sleepless in Seattle") were among the first celebrities to have contracted the corona virus. At the time, the couple were in Australia, spent three days in quarantine in a hospital, persisted in their home in isolation for another two weeks, and flew back to Los Angeles in late March. In an interview with "The Guardian" Hanks looks back at the time of illness.
"Today we are fine again. Our discomfort with the virus was almost gone in two weeks. We had very different reactions, which was strange," explains the actor. His wife had lost her sense of taste and smell, had severe nausea and high fever. "I only had crippling pain all over my body, was very tired and couldn't concentrate on anything for more than twelve minutes." But the latter corresponds a bit to its natural state anyway, Hanks jokes.
Don't be afraid of coronavirus
"When we were in the hospital, I said: 'I am 63 years old, have type 2 diabetes, I had a stent in my heart – am I a case with a red flag?'" Continues Hanks. But the doctors in quarantine could not have seen rising body temperatures or signs of pneumonia. When asked if he was afraid, the Hollywood star waved him off. "I'm not one to wake up in the morning wondering whether you'll see the end of the day or not. I'm pretty relaxed about that."
And how does he assess the US response to the virus? "The official but also the individual behavior only left me with question marks. There are really only three things that everyone has to do: wear a mask, maintain social distance and wash hands," emphasizes Hanks. He has no understanding for people who believe that they do not have to do their part.