Channel Nine removes Tracy Grimshaw from A Current Affair broadcast amid coronavirus fears

Tracy Grimshaw is pulled from A Current Affair because Tom Hanks’ wife used her dressing room before coronavirus diagnosis – as Karl Stefanovic steps in to replace her

  • Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson visited Nine’s Willoughby studios on Monday
  • On Thursday, the couple both tested positive for coronavirus
  • Network is taking steps to protect its staff, including ACA host Tracy Grimshaw
  • She is staying home as a ‘precautionary measure’ after having surgery last week
  • Rita had used Tracy’s dressing room during her appearance on Today Extra

Channel Nine is taking steps to protect its top talent after actor Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, visited the network’s Willoughby studios on Monday.

The Hollywood couple, both 63, tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, three days after Rita appeared as a guest on morning show Today Extra.

Tom was also present on set when his wife was being interviewed on Monday. 

Nine has confirmed that Tracy Grimshaw, 59, won’t host A Current Affair tonight because Rita had used her dressing room earlier in the week. 

Tracy Grimshaw, 59, (pictured) has officially been removed from Thursday’s broadcast of A Current Affair to protect her from catching the deadly virus

A Nine spokesperson said: ‘Tracy Grimshaw is not hosting ACA tonight as a precautionary measure since she had minor surgery last week.

‘Karl Stefanovic will host in her place. Arrangements for hosts for Today Extra are still being confirmed.’

Network staff who came into ‘prolonged contact’ with Rita – including Today Extra hosts David Campbell and Belinda Russell – are self-isolating for two weeks and will be getting tested for coronavirus.

Karl Stefanovic, 45, (pictured) will step in to replace Tracy as the host of A Current Affair on Thursday night

Karl Stefanovic, 45, (pictured) will step in to replace Tracy as the host of A Current Affair on Thursday night 

David and his Today Extra co-host Belinda Russell (right), who was also on the panel when they interviewed Rita (centre) on Monday, are both taking precautionary measures

David and his Today Extra co-host Belinda Russell (right), who was also on the panel when they interviewed Rita (centre) on Monday, are both taking precautionary measures

Daily Mail Australia understands Tom was also present on set when Rita was being interviewed

Daily Mail Australia understands Tom was also present on set when Rita was being interviewed

Tom and Rita tested positive for coronovirus on Thursday while the Oscar-winning actor was filming a movie on the Gold Coast.

The Forrest Gump star revealed on Instagram that he and his wife experienced symptoms including the common cold, body aches and chills before they decided to get tested.

He wrote: ‘Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. 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. 

‘Well, now. What to do next? 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. 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! Hanx!’

He also shared a picture of what appears to be a medical waste basket and a latex glove in a hospital.

Tom and Rita (pictured on 13 November 2015) tested positive for coronovirus on Thursday while the Oscar-winning actor was filming a movie on the Gold Coast

Tom and Rita (pictured on 13 November 2015) tested positive for coronovirus on Thursday while the Oscar-winning actor was filming a movie on the Gold Coast 

Tom had arrived on the Gold Coast on January 26 to begin pre-production on a Baz Luhrmann-directed film about Elvis Presley in which he plays Presley’s longtime manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

He was rumoured to be staying at Peppers Broadbeach – the very same hotel building where a 44-year-old Chinese national, who later became one of Australia’s first cases of coronavirus, was staying.

Australia has more than 120 cases confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Tom revealed on Instagram on Thursday that he and Rita experienced symptoms including the common cold, body aches and chills before they decided to get tested

Tom revealed on Instagram on Thursday that he and Rita experienced symptoms including the common cold, body aches and chills before they decided to get tested

Tom also shared this picture of what appears to be a medical waste basket in a hospital

Tom also shared this picture of what appears to be a medical waste basket in a hospital