When award-winning actor Tom Hanks announced his Covid-19 diagnosis last year on March, many Americans were still learning about the virus and its severity. However, Hanks` social media posts shaped people`s behaviour toward the virus, a new study suggests. 
 
The researchers, including Jessica Gall Myrick from the Pennsylvania State University in the US, surveyed around 700 people about their attitudes and behaviours toward the virus the day after Hanks posted the news on social media on March 11, 2020. 
 
Just under 90 per cent of the people surveyed had heard about Hanks` social media posts saying he contracted the virus, and approximately half of that group reported it changed their attitudes and behaviours. 
 
"There is a growing body of research about how celebrity behaviour and social media posts can affect public health," Myrick said in the study published in the journal Health Communication. 
 
"Celebrities can have a huge reach, often more so than typical scientists or doctors or the health department. If they are encouraging positive health behaviour change, then it can serve as a de facto public health intervention," Myrick added. 
 
According to the study, the people who had heard the news reported Hanks` diagnosis "highlighted the reality of Covid-19" and broadened their understanding of not only the severity of the situation but also their susceptibility to the illness. 
 
Nearly half of the participants who had heard the news when surveyed reported a range of emotional responses, according to the study. 
 
Responses included "surprise, fear, anger, sadness and hope." 
 
The respondents who reported making changes said Hanks` disclosure inspired them to seek more information and/or take stricter precautions. 
 
The half of respondents who heard the news and said Hanks` diagnosis did not change their thoughts or behaviours reported thinking the actor would recover from the illness. 
 
They also noted they were already aware of Covid-19 and its effects and did not think Hanks` announcement changed their outlook or intentions regarding the virus. 
 
The researchers conducted a statistical analysis to see if and what characteristics could predict whether people`s attitudes and behaviours changed after learning Hanks` diagnosis. 
 
The results indicated that people who identified with Hanks or said they knew him were more likely to change their thoughts or Covid-related behaviours due to the announcement. 
 
 
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When award-winning actor Tom Hanks announced his Covid-19 diagnosis last year on March, many Americans were still learning about the virus and its severity. However, Hanks` social media posts shaped people`s behaviour toward the virus, a new study suggests.

When award-winning actor Tom Hanks announced his Covid-19 diagnosis last year on March, many Americans were still learning about the virus and its severity. However, Hanks` social media posts shaped people`s behaviour toward the virus, a new study suggests. The researchers, including Jessica Gall Myrick from the Pennsylvania State University in the US, surveyed around 700 people about their attitudes and behaviours toward the virus the day after Hanks posted the news on social media on March 11, 2020. Just under 90 per cent of the people surveyed had heard about Hanks` social media posts saying he contracted the virus, and approximately half of that group reported it changed their attitudes and behaviours. "There is a growing body of research about how celebrity behaviour and social media posts can affect public health," Myrick said in the study published in the journal Health Communication. "Celebrities can have a huge reach, often more so than typical scientists or doctors or the health department. If they are encouraging positive health behaviour change, then it can serve as a de facto public health intervention," Myrick added. According to the study, the people who had heard the news reported Hanks` diagnosis "highlighted the reality of Covid-19" and broadened their understanding of not only the severity of the situation but also their susceptibility to the illness. Nearly half of the participants who had heard the news when surveyed reported a range of emotional responses, according to the study. Responses included "surprise, fear, anger, sadness and hope." The respondents who reported making changes said Hanks` disclosure inspired them to seek more information and/or take stricter precautions. The half of respondents who heard the news and said Hanks` diagnosis did not change their thoughts or behaviours reported thinking the actor would recover from the illness. They also noted they were already aware of Covid-19 and its effects and did not think Hanks` announcement changed their outlook or intentions regarding the virus. The researchers conducted a statistical analysis to see if and what characteristics could predict whether people`s attitudes and behaviours changed after learning Hanks` diagnosis. The results indicated that people who identified with Hanks or said they knew him were more likely to change their thoughts or Covid-related behaviours due to the announcement.

Tom Hanks' COVID-19 diagnosis shaped public perception of virus: Study

Days after actress Rita Wilson spoke about her battle with coronavirus, her husband Tom Hanks has now opened up about the symptoms he had. 
 
Hanks and Wilson were one of the first celebrities to come and confirm that they had contracted the disease in early March. 
 
The Oscar-winning actor was featured on Thursday's episode of the National Defense Radio Show where he discussed his experience fighting off the virus. 
 
“Rita went through a tougher time than I did,” said Hanks. “She had a much higher fever. She had lost her sense of taste and sense of smell." 
 
The 63-year-old actor stated that his symptoms were mild in comparison. "I had some bad body aches and was very fatigued, and that’s how the COVID-19 went through us," the actor said. 
 
Hanks added that in quarantine he tried to stay in shape by doing 30-minute stretch sessions, as well as other "old man things." 
 
“I was wiped after 12 minutes,” he admitted. 
 
The couple tested positive for the virus while they were in Australia where Hanks was shooting for Baz Luhrman's film.

The actor stated that they were one of the early cases in the country. "It was relatively early in Australia’s response to the coronavirus, and they wanted us to not give it to anyone else,” said Hanks. “That’s why we were in lockdown.”

A few days earlier, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/rita-wilson-opens-up-about-her-coronavirus-symptoms-warns-of-the-side-effects-of-chloroquine-drug-292628">Wilson had spoken about her symptoms </a>during an interview. 
 
Hanks and Wilson returned to their home in America in the last week of March after fully recovring from the disease.

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Days after actress Rita Wilson spoke about her battle with coronavirus, her husband Tom Hanks has now opened up about the symptoms he had. Hanks and Wilson were one of the first celebrities to come and confirm that they had contracted the disease in early March.

Days after actress Rita Wilson spoke about her battle with coronavirus, her husband Tom Hanks has now opened up about the symptoms he had. Hanks and Wilson were one of the first celebrities to come and confirm that they had contracted the disease in early March. The Oscar-winning actor was featured on Thursday's episode of the National Defense Radio Show where he discussed his experience fighting off the virus. “Rita went through a tougher time than I did,” said Hanks. “She had a much higher fever. She had lost her sense of taste and sense of smell." The 63-year-old actor stated that his symptoms were mild in comparison. "I had some bad body aches and was very fatigued, and that’s how the COVID-19 went through us," the actor said. Hanks added that in quarantine he tried to stay in shape by doing 30-minute stretch sessions, as well as other "old man things." “I was wiped after 12 minutes,” he admitted. The couple tested positive for the virus while they were in Australia where Hanks was shooting for Baz Luhrman's film. The actor stated that they were one of the early cases in the country. "It was relatively early in Australia’s response to the coronavirus, and they wanted us to not give it to anyone else,” said Hanks. “That’s why we were in lockdown.” A few days earlier, Wilson had spoken about her symptoms during an interview. Hanks and Wilson returned to their home in America in the last week of March after fully recovring from the disease.

After wife Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks opens up about his coronavirus symptoms

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Tom Hanks' COVID-19 diagnosis shaped public perception of virus: Study

After wife Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks opens up about his coronavirus symptoms