Octavia Spencer: Oscar-winning actor to self-isolate amid coronavirus pandemic

'I'm very prayerful for the nation,' she said

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Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer has said she is self-isolating amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The actor, whose credits include The Help, The Shape of Water and horror film Ma, told NBC news show TODAY that she is taking news of the outbreak very seriously.

“I’m a homebody person anyway because I’m usually on a set, but I’m very prayerful for the nation,” she said. “You worry about people who are living paycheck-to-paycheck.”

She continued: “For me, I’m going to stay in. I’m going to self-isolate and watch a little TV.”

Spencer’s comments come after Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson revealed they had tested positive for the coronavirus while in Australia.

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The announcement that Hanks has contracted the illness is sparking fear in American and British citizens, who don’t qualify to be tested due to strict restrictions; the actor was able to test for the virus in Australia where it’s free and widely available to all.

Many film productions have come grinding to a halt following the outbreak with film releases including Bond film No Time to Die and A Quiet Place II being postponed until later this year.

For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organisation, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

The UK’s reaction to the global pandemic is also being criticised with a scene from British sitcom Yes Minister going viral for seemingly predicting Boris Johnson’s “clueless” response.