Tom Hanks says he has ‘no respect’ for people who don’t wear masks

Tom Hanks, who recovered from Covid-19 earlier this year, has spoken out against people who are not wearing masks during the pandemic.

“I don’t get it, I simply do not get it. It is literally the least you can do,” said Hanks. The actor made his comments about the use of face coverings during a video call with the Associated Press to promote his latest film, Greyhound.

“I mean, when you drive a car, you’ve got to obey speed limits, you’ve got to use your turn signals, you’ve got to avoid hitting pedestrians. If you can’t do those three things, you shouldn’t be driving a car," said Hanks.

"If you can’t wear a mask and wash your hands and social distance, I’ve got no respect for you, man. I don’t buy your argument."

Masks remain a contentious issue in the US with some members of the public refusing to comply with government recommendations to wear a face covering in public. President Trump has previously spoken in opposition to the wearing of masks but has since come out in favour of them. A growing number of US states have mandated the use of masks in public spaces to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson both tested positive for coronavirus in March while the actor was filming in Australia. The couple were quarantined there, where they sent updates to fans worldwide using social media. Both Hanks and Wilson have since recovered and returned home to Los Angeles, California.

Other celebrities to have tested positive for coronavirus include Idris Elba and his wife, Sabrina Dhowre, and singers Pink, Sarah Bareilles and Charlotte Lawrence.