Coronavirus: Tom Hanks says he doesn't have 'much respect' for those who won't wear masks
Hanks, alongside his wife Rita Wilson, caught the virus while filming for a new movie in Gold Coast, Australia, in March.
Wednesday 8 July 2020 22:30, UK
Tom Hanks says he does not have "much respect" for those who do not wear face masks during the coronavirus pandemic.
Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson caught the virus while filming for a new movie in Gold Coast, Australia, in March.
Speaking in a recent interview about ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 with Reuters, Hanks 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: "Whether or not we like it, we're all in this together."
:: Listen to Divided States on , , , and
In a separate interview with NBC's Today Show on Tuesday, Hanks said that by wearing a mask, practising social distancing and washing hands: "That alone means you are contributing to the betterment of your house, your work, your town, society as a whole.
"Let's not confuse the fact - it's killing people. You can argue what the numbers are... It's killing people."
Sky News reported over the weekend how the wearing of masks in the US had become politicised, after correspondent Alex Crawford was called "stupid" for using one.
US President Donald Trump, who has said that face coverings should not be mandatory, said last week that masks are "good" and that he would be willing to wear one in public - but has so far not done so.
Tom Hanks' request to the public to wear face coverings comes a week after Friends star Jennifer Aniston told her followers on Instagram "If you care about human life... #wearadamnmask".