Advertisement

Tom Hanks says coronavirus left his bones feeling like ‘soda crackers’

Tom Hanks has described his symptoms while suffering from COVID-19, pictured at the Academy Awards, February 2020.  (Getty Images)
Tom Hanks has described his symptoms while suffering from COVID-19, pictured at the Academy Awards, February 2020. (Getty Images)

Tom Hanks has opened up about some of the symptoms he experienced while suffering from coronavirus earlier this year, claiming his bones felt like they were “made out of soda crackers.”

Back in March, Tom Hanks, 64, and his wife Rita Wilson, 63, were two of the first celebrities to test positive for COVID-19.

Appearing virtually on The Late Show on Tuesday night, the actor chatted with host Stephen Colbert about his experiences of coronavirus, which he and his wife have since recovered from.

“We had no idea how it could have happened, where it could have happened,” Hanks explained of his surprise to get the virus.

Read more: The face mask hacks you need to know: From the best materials to how to make them fit

The couple had tested positive for COVID-19 after travelling from the US to Australia while Hanks filmed an Elvis Presley biopic in March.

Interestingly, the couple both suffered from different symptoms while battling the illness.

“Other than a headache, she [his wife] had a higher fever than I did, she had horrible nausea,” Hanks explained before going on to say that although his wife lost her sense of taste and smell, he maintained his.

“I had bones that felt like they were made out of soda crackers,” Hanks continued. “Every time I moved around it felt like something was cracking inside of me.”

He also described being very fatigued and “having really sore butt.”

Read more: How to safely dispose of a face mask

Hanks said that after they were diagnosed the couple found themselves in hospital with medical staff covered in PPE protective gear.

The Greyhound actor says it took the couple about eight or nine days to recover, but they still don’t know if having the disease has left them with immunity or if they could actually get the virus again.

“No one really knows what the x factor is,” he explains of the immunity unknown.

In an earlier interview with The Guardian, Hanks said of his and Wilson’s illness: “Our discomfort because of the virus was pretty much done in two weeks and we had very different reactions, and that was odd.”

Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson suffered different symptoms, pictured at the Academy Awards, February 2020. (Getty Images)
Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson suffered different symptoms, pictured at the Academy Awards, February 2020. (Getty Images)

Unsurprisingly, given his personal experience with COVID-19, Hanks is not a huge fan of people not wearing face masks when they go out in public.

The Oscar winner is now urging everyone to take preventative measures and health guidelines more seriously.

“There's really only three things we can do in order to get to tomorrow: Wear a mask, social distance, wash our hands,” Hanks said during a virtual press conference for his new film Greyhound.

“Those things are so simple, so easy, if anybody cannot find it in themselves to practice those three very basic things, I just think shame on you,” he added.

Read more: How to help children get used to wearing a face mask or covering

Earlier this month Jennifer Aniston also urged people to “wear a damn mask” to help curb the spread of coronavirus.

The Morning Show actor headed to Instagram to share a photo of herself in a face mask alongside a plea for fans to do the same when outdoors.

“I understand masks are inconvenient and uncomfortable,” the star wrote in the accompanying caption.

“But don’t you feel that it’s worse that businesses are shutting down... jobs are being lost... health care workers are hitting absolute exhaustion. And so many lives have been taken by this virus because we aren't doing enough.”