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Purell's hand sanitizer sales have skyrocketed in recent weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic, but it might have to use some of that money for legal fees ... it's been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging its germ-killing claims are BS.

Purell manufacturer, Gojo Industries, was sued last week in Ohio federal court by 4 individuals claiming the Purell packaging flaunts "misleading claims" about the effectiveness of its product.

According to the legal docs ... Purell's front label claims that it "kills 99.99% of illness causing germs" implies that figure is backed by scientific support, but the folks suing say none exists.

Likewise, the suit adds that Purell hand sanitizer claims to help prevent infection and diseases, but there's allegedly "no sound scientific evidence to support the claims."

The lawsuit also mentions a letter sent by the FDA to Gojo in January, which plaintiffs' claim describes Purell as "nothing more than a topical antiseptic," which was not safe and effective in preventing infection.

The coronavirus pandemic is giving new meaning to the March tradition of cutting down nets ... beaches across Los Angeles County are making sure no one plays volleyball.

L.A. County workers are busy cutting down volleyball nets across the Santa Monica Bay Friday, this only hours after California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered residents to stay home to help slow down the spread of the novel virus.

The decision to take volleyball off the table makes sense when you think about it ... everyone in a volleyball match touches the ball, and they're usually sweating and perspiring, which is not a good combination when it comes to COVID-19.

Despite the "Safer at Home" order for California residents, people can still go outside to walk and get exercise ... officials urged folks not to congregate at the beach, and now there's no way to get a volleyball game going.

Netflix is stepping up for its crews -- and others -- during the pandemic by creating a $100 million fund to provide relief to production staff suddenly forced into unemployment.

The streaming giant made the generous announcement Friday as signs grew of a global recession due to the coronavirus crisis. Netflix says, "Most of the fund will go towards support for the hardest hit workers on our own productions around the world."

The company went on to say, "We're in the process of working out exactly what this means, production by production. This is in addition to the two weeks pay we've already committed to the crew and cast on productions we were forced to suspend last week."

The fund will help non-Netflix workers too ... as the company said $15 million of the dough will go to third parties and non-profits providing emergency relief to out-of-work cast and crew in the countries where their productions are shot.

Several other relief funds, including SAG-AFTRA Covid-19 Disaster Fund and the Motion Picture and Television Fund will each get $1 mil from Netflix.

Netflix is also working with other regions where it has a big production presence -- Europe, Latin America and Asia -- to create a similar support fund.

The massive fund comes as the U.S. government tries to hammer out a trillion dollar relief bill for out of work Americans.

The president of Team USA Swimming has fired off a letter to the head of the U.S. Olympic Committee strongly urging for the 2020 Games to be postponed 1 year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tim Hinchey -- President and CEO of USA Swimming -- feels it's unfair to force athletes to prepare for Tokyo 2020 while they're trying to follow government mandates urging them to quarantine and stay out of public places.

As we previously reported, Olympic training pools around the country have been shut down to protect the athletes from exposure to the COVID-19 virus ... leaving many swimmers without a place to work out while they prep for the biggest competition of their lives.

So, Hinchey sent a letter to Sarah Hirshland -- CEO of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee -- urging her to push for a 1-year postponement.

"As this global pandemic has grown, we have watched our athletes’ worlds be turned upside down and watched them struggle to find ways to continue to prepare and train – many for the biggest competitive opportunity of their lives."

"Our world class swimmers are always willing to race anyone, anytime and anywhere; however, pressing forward amidst the global health crisis this summer is not the answer."

"The right and responsible thing to do is to prioritize everyone’s health and safety and appropriately recognize the toll this global pandemic is taking on athletic preparations," Hinchey wrote.

"It has transcended borders and wreaked havoc on entire populations, including those of our respected competitors. Everyone has experienced unimaginable disruptions, mere months before the Olympic Games, which calls into question the authenticity of a level playing field for all."

Hinchey added ... "Our athletes are under tremendous pressure, stress and anxiety, and their mental health and wellness should be among the highest priorities."

"It is with the burden of these serious concerns that we respectfully request that the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee advocate for the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 by one year."

So far, Tokyo 2020 organizers are adamant the event will take place as scheduled in July 2020 -- and they're currently holding torch lighting ceremonies in Japan.

Just 'cause we're all cooped up at home doesn't mean you can't getcha tan on while quarantining ... Exhibit A? UFC superstar Paige VanZant!!

"America's Sweetheart" gave an inside look on how she's social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic on Friday ... hitting IG with a much needed bikini selfie.

"Sunshine mixed with a little bit of quarantine," Paige said with a smile from her home in Oregon.

If you follow PVZ and her hubby, Bellator star Austin Vanderford, on social media ... you know they're finding ways to stay busy during these times. They've been working out, they're been goofing around ... but most importantly, they've been AVOIDING COVID-19!!!

And, if you're looking for entertainment, here's a shameless plug -- watch Paige host the awesome new Snapchat show "Fight School" ... where top UFC fighters teach our own TMZ producer Lucas how to execute their signature moves!!

Check it out ... 'cause you ain't got anything better to do.

Vanessa Bryant's trying to get affairs in order for her and her kids following Kobe's death, and coronavirus is making it difficult ... so she's asking the court for some help.

Vanessa filed legal docs asking a judge to appoint a guardian ad litem for her 2 daughters -- Bianka and Natalia -- as well as another for Capri ... as it pertains to modifying Kobe's trust to include Capri. This is a standard way of doing things -- judges routinely appoint guardians to represent the independent interests of the children -- but now she says it's urgent.

Why? Vanessa says "due to court closures caused by the global pandemic" there is major uncertainty with how the court system will stay open ... so she needs to get her ducks in a row STAT.

We broke the story ... Vanessa just filed other legal docs asking a judge to amend Kobe's trust to include their youngest daughter, 9-month-old Capri, who was born after Kobe last amended the trust.

New York is hitting pause amid the coronavirus pandemic ... the entire state is shutting down to protect residents from the outbreak.

New Yorkers will only be allowed to leave their homes for essential business, and all other workers are being told to stay home, as ordered by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who says there will be a civil fine and mandatory closure for any biz not in compliance.

Cuomo is calling this, "New York state on pause," and he says it's the most drastic action the state can take to fight the outbreak.

The shutdown rules -- remain indoors aside from solitary exercise outside, pre-screen all visitors and aides by taking temperatures, don't visit households with multiple people, vulnerable people should wear a mask around others, stay at least 6 feet away from individuals, only take public transportation if it's urgent and absolutely necessary.

Cuomo says the state has more than 7,000 confirmed coronavirus cases ... this out of more than 32,000 individual tests.

New York follows the entire state of California in putting non-essential workers on 24-hour virus lockdown ... meaning 1 in 5 Americans are being told to stay home.

Cuomo says the mandate is not a "shelter in place" order ... and he says mass transit workers, restaurant staff doing delivery and take-out count as essential workers and can still go to work.

Rebecca Gayheart and Eric Dane are showing a united front when combating the coronavirus ... while simultaneously remaining split, figuratively speaking.

The former couple was spotted out Thursday in L.A. leaving Target where they bagged a cart full of items. It's interesting ... you can see Rebecca wearing gloves while Eric apparently enjoys flying by the seat of his pants, cause he's pushing the cart with his bare hands.

Their kiddos, Billie and Georgia, came along for the ride and also kept it safe by wearing gloves. Worth mentioning ... most grocery stores/retail shops now offer sanitizing wipes at entrances to wipe down shopping carts. But still ... now's not the time to skip out on safety.

In any event, seems the family's hunkering down together during California's mandated lockdown. You'll recall Rebecca filed for divorce from Eric back in February 2018, but it seems hanging out together's nothing new.

The ex-couple was hanging out just a few months ago when they rang in the New Year. Ah, January. Simpler times.

Kylie Jenner's doing her patriotic duty at the request of the Surgeon General ... by telling her hundreds of millions of fans to stay home to help fight coronavirus.

Kylie posted on her Insta Story Thursday after SG Jerome Adams called for social media influencers to urge young people to take the pandemic seriously and start social distancing.

Kylie started by urging her followers to stay inside and self-quarantine, saying she herself is on her 9th day. She said though she's been posting daily reminders, Adams encouraged her to really hammer the point home.

She reminded her fans that young people are not immune to this -- in fact, a large portion of those hospitalized are young adults -- and there currently is no cure ... so all we can do is try to slow the virus down.

Jenner also shared some helpful advice on how to pass the time during these days of isolation ... and has an interesting reason for why she's done it before -- long before COVID-19.

Amazing gesture from Arthur Blank ... the Atlanta Falcons owner is donating $5.4 MILLION to help coronavirus relief efforts.

The 77-year-old made the announcement Friday ... giving $5 MIL alone to the Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund -- a charity set up to help those affected by the virus in the Georgia area.

"As a Family Foundation we have always believed that it is the power of many that will make the greatest impact on the most pressing issues in our society," Blank said.

"This is that moment -- to join together to truly harness the power of all of us to address a challenge that knows no boundaries and has no precedent in our lifetimes."

Blank also announced he'll be donating $100,000 to help support public schools in Atlanta; $100,000 to help police efforts in the city; and $100,000 to six non-profits to help provide food in the area as well.

Blank also revealed he'll be giving more than $100,000 to various foundations in Montana -- a state he owns businesses in -- to help the homeless, needy and at-risk.

Blank -- who co-founded Home Depot -- is known for his charity work ... the Falcons say he and his Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation have now donated more than $540 MILLION to those in need over the years.

Another poor pooch has tested positive for coronavirus ... this time it's a 2-year-old German shepherd owned by a 30-year-old human also infected with COVID-19.

The second dog likely contracted the virus from its owner in the Pok Fu Lam-area of Hong Kong, and not the other way around ... according to experts.

In fact, both the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health and the CDC have stated there's no evidence house pets like cats and dogs can spread the virus ... and people should not abandon their animals out of fear.

The German shepherd has been quarantined along with another mixed-breed dog from the same home. According to the the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department ... the other pooch has not tested positive and neither dog has shown any symptoms of coronavirus, so that's good news.

The AFCD will continue monitoring the dogs.

The second positive test comes just days after the first known dog to test positive -- a 17-year-old pomeranian -- died in Hong Kong after returning from quarantine. The dog has tested weak positive and was old, so animal welfare experts have said it may have died from stress or natural causes ... and not from COVID-19.

Australians and Floridians ... one in the same. Who knew???

The coronavirus global pandemic is serious enough to force Australia to close its borders for the next 6 months, but the country's beaches are still open for biz ... and apparently not big on social distancing.

World-famous Bondi Beach -- where, it's highly relevant, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were hanging days before testing positive for COVID-19 -- still has hundreds of people enjoying the surf, sun and sand.

While CDC guidelines call for gatherings of 10 or less in the U.S., Australia has banned outdoor gatherings of 500 people.

Australian Prime Minister just announced the 6-month ban on all visitors, so it would seem the Aussies are taking the outbreak very seriously. At last count, they have 756 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 7 deaths.

Of course, the sand here in Florida has been alarmingly packed all week as spring break festivities ignored the health crisis -- and the state's governor refused to close the beaches.

However, Miami-Dade County made the call Thursday to shut down its beaches. That didn't stop at least one jackass from attempting to catch some rays on Miami Beach.

Not for long though ... cops quickly slapped the cuffs on him (bad tan lines, bro) for trespassing.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a lifeline for thousands and thousands of people struggling to keep their addiction in check ... and the org is adapting to the drastic changes brought on by the coronavirus pandemic ... AA meetings are going virtual thanks to some pretty cool tech.

People across the country have relied on AA as their daily gut check for years, but traditional meetings have fallen by the wayside due to the outbreak ... and luckily, local chapters are now holding meetings online.

Here's how it works ... AA chapters are using services like Zoom, allowing members to have video chats at their regularly scheduled daily times. There are also dedicated phone numbers for folks to call into.

AA's General Service Office in New York City, which serves thousands of people, has already been closed to visitors and tours because of COVID-19, making these virtual meetings a much-needed support system for folks to stay sober.

Lots of people in AA also have sober buddy systems, which they can't use right now, so online forums and video chats are a huge help.