Tom Hanks to donate blood for COVID-19 vaccine research
Tom Hanks is a Hollywood giant - his films have grossed almost $10billion worldwide. The actor commands widespread respect in the industry and beyond so when he speaks out, people listen. And that's exactly what he did following his protracted battle with coronavirus last year.
Tom and wife, actress and singer Rita Wilson, revealed in March last year that they had tested positive for the coronavirus while in Australia for a film shoot.
At the time, the Hollywood actor said he was overwhelmed with exhaustion but admitted his wife had been hit a lot harder.
Months after contracting the viral disease, Tom urged people to protect themselves and others.
He also reproached those who flouted the clear advice.
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Speaking on Reuters Television, the actor said: “At the very least, three tiny things (are) in everybody’s wheelhouse, if you choose to do them.
“Wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance. If you can’t do that, I don’t have much respect for you.”
He added: “If you drive a car, you’ve got to use your turn signal, not drive too fast and avoid pedestrians."
The star also called for unity in how we respond to the virus, which can affect anyone.
What are the main symptoms of coronavirus?
According to the NHS, the main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- A high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.
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