American actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for coronavirus and are in hospital on the Gold Coast.

Key points: Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson went to hospital after suffering coronavirus symptoms

Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson went to hospital after suffering coronavirus symptoms In a post on Instagram, the Hollywood actor confirmed the couple tested positive to COVID-19

In a post on Instagram, the Hollywood actor confirmed the couple tested positive to COVID-19 Hanks had been on the Gold Coast to film an Elvis biopic directed by Baz Luhrmann

On Instagram, 63-year-old Hanks wrote, "We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the coronavirus, and were found to be positive."

Hanks was in Queensland to work on an Elvis biopic with director Baz Luhrmann.

The dual Oscar winner was signed to play Elvis' manager Colonel Tom Parker.

"Well, now. What to do next?" Hanks wrote on Thursday.

"The medical officials have protocols that must be followed.

"We Hanks' will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires.

Tom Hanks posted an image of medical gloves in a hospital bin to Instagram while announcing he and his wife had coronavirus. ( Tom Hanks )

"Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?

"We'll keep the world posted and updated.

"Take care of yourselves!" his social media post said.

Rita Wilson and her husband Tom Hanks have been diagnosed with coronavirus while in Australia. ( Instagram )

The couple's son Chet Hanks also took to social media to confirm his parents' diagnosis.

"I just got off the phone with them," he said.

"They both are fine, they're not even that sick.

"They're not worried about it, they're not tripping, but they're going through the necessary health precautions, obviously.

"I appreciate everyone's concern and well wishes but I think it's going to be all right," he said.

Film company working with health authorities

Warner Bros Pictures, which is distributing the Elvis film, also released a statement.

"We have been made aware that a company member from our Elvis feature film, which is currently in pre-production on the Gold Coast, Australia, has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus)," a spokesperson said.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson attended the Oscars in February. ( AP: Jordan Strauss )

"We are working closely with the appropriate Australian health agencies to identify and contact anyone who may have come in direct contact with the individual.

"The health and safety of our company members is always our top priority, and we are taking precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world.

"The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 is currently receiving treatment."

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she wished the couple a speedy recovery.

"I have been in contact with Baz Luhrmann quite often today and he has said to me that he wants to pass on to everyone that we stand with the people of Queensland in making sure we comply with any restrictions and of course that we want to see a speedy recovery," she said.

"The filming has been going extremely well on the Gold Coast and of course there will be a halt to some of the filming at the moment whilst Tom and Rita get the very best care that they will get in our Queensland hospital," she said.

Last Thursday Wilson performed on stage to an audience at the Emporium Hotel in Brisbane's South Bank.

Dozens of people paid $175 a head to watch Rita Wilson perform in Brisbane last week. ( Supplied: Kylie Lang )

Hanks was among those watching on, as was commercial radio presenter Robin Bailey.

Emporium Hotel general manager, Charles Martin, reassured hotel guests, staff and visitors saying the room in which Wilson performed and any associated areas had been cleaned.

Hollywood reacted to the news with Canadian-born actor Donal Logue, known for roles in Vikings and Gotham, tweeting, "Feel better, boss! All the best to you and Rita".

Brian Koppelman, the creator and showrunner for the TV show Billions, wrote, "Get better, sir! We need you".

Tom Hanks was filming the Elvis biopic at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast. ( ABC News: Sarah Cumming )

Most reactions were jokes and memes including one Twitter post that said, "he'll be fine… the dude survived being stranded on an island, Vietnam, and a failed moon landing," referring to Hanks' past roles.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison commented on Facebook saying, "Wishing you both a speedy recovery. Scott".

Hollywood actor Jon Donahue, who is in post production with Tom Hanks for another movie, tweeted a photo of two bottles of wine with the hashtags #Australia #Coronavirus and #Quarantine.

"We're fine, we have wine!" Donahue said in his tweet, which attracted condolences from followers.

Ms Palaszczuk said contact tracing within the production team had already commenced.

"People who have come in close contact with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson will now need to self isolate and quarantine," she said.

"Self-isolating means staying in your apartment or your house — it doesn't mean going down to the shops and getting a bottle of milk or anything like that."

Tom Hanks with Mavis's Kitchen and Cabins manager Riccardo in northern NSW on February 2. ( Facebook: ABC Gold Coast )

Meanwhile, Channel Nine confirmed it had taken action "in line with our crisis response plan" after Wilson visited its Sydney studio on Monday for a television appearance.

"Those who were in prolonged contact with her are self-isolating for 14 days … our premises is currently being cleaned in all areas she visited," a statement said.

A Sydney Opera House spokesperson said Wilson had performed in its Utzon Room on Saturday evening.

"The performance was attended by approximately 207 people, including her husband Tom Hanks," the spokesperson said.

"Following news that the couple have tested positive for coronavirus in Queensland, the Opera House is in touch with New South Wales Health and Queensland Health and will be acting on their advice.

"This includes getting in touch with anyone, including patrons and staff, who may have been in contact with the couple while at the Opera House."

Numbers expected to climb

Queensland currently has 27 other confirmed cases of coronavirus and almost 3,000 people in self-isolation at home.

Health officials are also trying to track down patrons of Friday's nightclub in Brisbane after a university student who contracted the disease attended the night spot last weekend.

Coronavirus was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on Thursday, after the number of cases outside China increased 13-fold in the past two weeks.

The announcement came as new figures from Italy showed the death rate among coronavirus patients in that country was more than 6 per cent, higher than the global average of about 3.6 per cent.

The coronavirus, which emerged in China in December, has spread around the world, halting industry, bringing flights to a standstill, closing schools and forcing the postponement of sporting events and concerts.

Now there are more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,291 people have died, with the numbers expected to climb.