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Los Angeles is implementing a new coronavirus mandate that could eventually become standard across all major cities ... everyone at an essential business is being ordered to cover their faces.

Workers and shoppers in L.A. will be required to wear non-medical grade face coverings starting Friday ... as ordered by Mayor Eric Garcetti. It's called the Worker Protection Order.

People can cover their faces with fabric, such as bandannas and scarves. The mayor says any essential business owner can deny admission or service to folks who aren't covering their face.

The rules apply to essential businesses such as grocery stores, banks, convenience stores, warehouses, restaurants, laundromats, taxis, etc. The mandate is in addition to social distancing measures, and the mayor is encouraging retailers to install plexiglass to separate cashiers and customers at points of sale.

Employers are also required to provide face coverings or reimburse employees for the cost of coverings, provide access to clean and sanitary restrooms on-site, allow employees to wash their hands every 30 minutes and implement physical distancing measures.

Failure to comply with the order constitutes a misdemeanor subject to fines and imprisonment, according to the Mayor.

The goal is pretty clear ... continuing to slow down the rapid spread of COVID-19.

NFL owners, GMs and coaches will NOT be allowed in the same room for this month's draft ... the league just announced it's forcing its teams to go 100% virtual for the big day.

Roger Goodell sent a memo to all 32 squads Monday, informing them they must draft away from team facilities in separate locations in order to comply with coronavirus guidelines.

"We have reviewed this matter in the past few days with both the Competition Committee and CEC," the memo said, "and this will confirm that Clubs will conduct their Draft operations remotely, with club personnel separately located in their homes."

Of course, the league shut down NFL facilities last month in an effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19 ... but it appeared ready to allow teams to get together in at least some form at offsite locations to draft anyway.

In fact, Sean Payton had planned to set the Saints' war room up at a local New Orleans brewery for the annual selection process, which is set to begin on April 23.

But, Goodell put the kibosh on all of that this week, saying, "All clubs should dedicate their personnel and technology resources toward preparing for a fully virtual Draft, with personnel in separate locations."

Goodell says on the league's end of the process ... they'll also be performing their duties in separate locations.

A tiger housed at New York City's Bronx Zoo has tested positive for COVID-19, which makes it the first-known animal in the U.S. to have contracted coronavirus.

The Wildlife Conservation Society -- which runs the facility and cares for the animals at the zoo -- made the announcement Sunday, saying a 4-year-old Malayan female tiger named Nadia has tested positive for the disease, which up until recently mostly affected just humans. The diagnosis was confirmed by the USDA's National Veterinary Services Lab.

The org adds other animals of theirs that have shown COVID-19 symptoms of late, including three other tigers and four lions, which have developed a dry cough, but all of which are expected to fully recover. Presumably, those other big cats will get tested too.

The Malayan tiger marks the first U.S-based animal case of coronavirus and the first case in a tiger anywhere in the world. Different animals -- including at least a couple dogs -- in China have reportedly contracted COVID-19, but it hasn't gotten to our furry domesticated friends ... or at least as far as we know.

It's pretty frightening ... and just goes to show the virus can, indeed, spread and adapt fairly rapidly. With this in mind, we imagine people will start having major convos about how to deal with the animal kingdom ... as that's a whole other swab of potential patients we'd have to care for on top of all the people already infected.

BTW, the Bronx Zoo has been closed since March 16 -- and, as you might know, NYC is considered the epicenter of coronavirus cases here in the States. Scary stuff ...

Here's some good news to brighten up your day ... UFC fighter Darren Till is a dad again!!

The #5 ranked welterweight announced the birth of his brand-new daughter, Raya Lilly Till -- and he's already got a nickname for the kid, "Little lockdown baby."

See, it's not all bad out there!

Obviously, Darren and his family won't be leaving the house any time soon due to the COVID-19 pandemic ... but they've got PLENTY to keep them busy now.

Chris Cuomo says his initial coronavirus symptoms are very similar to the flu ... and now he's worried about passing the virus along to his family as they quarantine at home.

The CNN anchor just gave Anderson Cooper the lowdown on his diagnosis ... explaining he first thought he was dealing with flu-like symptoms -- fever, chills, shortness of breath -- until his doctor dropped some knowledge on him.

It is interesting -- maybe even ironic -- Chris mentioned it feeling flu-like. As you know, CNN and others have given President Trump loads of crap, rightfully so, for initially downplaying coronavirus as just another flu, and no reason for Americans to worry.

Sure, the symptoms can be similar, but these are still two vastly different health issues ... and Chris says it makes it a lot easier for the virus to sneak up on ya. Scary stuff.

It's pretty alarming ... Chris says he's terrified his wife and children could become infected because they're all living under the same roof.

Chris is a trooper, so he's still anchoring his CNN show from his basement as long as he feels up to it ... and we gotta say, his work-from-home setup looks pretty sweet. Not a bad basement to be stuck in for a few weeks.

While Chris remains confident he can beat this thing, he explains why everyone needs to feel a sense of urgency right now.

Chris Cuomo's spent plenty of time talking about coronavirus on CNN, and now he's got a first-person account of what it's really like ... because he has the virus.

Chris says he's tested positive for COVID-19 ... but so far CNN says he's feeling well and will continue to anchor his prime-time show from his home.

Cuomo says he's been exposed to people in recent days who have also been diagnosed with COVID-19, and he's worried about spreading it to his kids and wife, Cristina.

Chris says he's quarantining in his basement, where he'll continue anchoring his show. He already anchored from home Monday and interviewed his brother, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Gov. Cuomo just addressed his brother's diagnosis at Tuesday's coronavirus briefing ... saying the virus doesn't care how rich, powerful, young or old you are. Andrew says Chris is gonna be fine, but there's a lesson in it for everyone.

CNN says Chris was last at its NYC offices Friday and he's the third case of coronavirus at the network's Hudson Yards workspace. As you know, New York is considered the epicenter of the outbreak in the States.

Chris says he had symptoms associated with COVID-19 -- fever, chills and shortness of breath -- but he's staying positive, vowing the country will beat the virus by remaining smart, tough and united.

Good news, bad news from the NCAA. Good news -- spring sport athletes who can't compete due to the COVID-19 pandemic will get another year of eligibility.

And, the bad news?? The winter sports -- including basketball -- athletes will NOT get an extra year of eligibility ... which will be a huge bummer for seniors who didn't get to finish their final season at the college level.

"The Council's decision gives individual schools the flexibility to make decisions at a campus level," M. Grace Calhoun of the D1 Council said in a statement.

"The Board of Governors encouraged conferences and schools to take action in the best interest of the student-athletes and their communities, and now schools have the opportunity to do that."

The decision came down Monday afternoon ... but another major discussion will have to be had soon about the status of the fall sports schedule.

Of course, there are people like Kirk Herbstreit who would be shocked if the NCAA football season happened in 2020 due to the coronavirus scare.

Losing part or all of the football season would be a huge hit to the NCAA and the schools that depend on that revenue to fund other programs.

FBI agents say they nailed a coronavirus snake oil salesman -- a SoCal man who allegedly claimed he had a cure, and used Magic Johnson's name to try to snare investors.

Ya just knew this was bound to happen ... the FBI arrested Keith Lawrence Middlebrook Wednesday evening in an undercover sting. The feds say Middlebrook delivered pills to an agent posing as a potential investor.

He allegedly claimed to have developed a "patent-pending cure" that would prevent people from getting infected, and also treat those already suffering from COVID-19.

The feds say Middlebrook solicited funds from investors and promised huge profits from his company, Quantum Prevention CV. For instance, the FBI says he told a cooperating witness a $1 million investment would turn into $200 to $300 million, conservatively.

He also allegedly dropped Magic Johnson's name to at least one potential investor ... claiming Magic was on his board of directors. The feds say they checked with Magic, who confirmed he had NO clue about Middlebrook or his "company."

Attorney General William Barr warned this week, during a White House briefing, the feds would come down hard on anyone preying on fears surrounding the pandemic.

True enough, Middlebrook's been charged with wire fraud, which carries a max sentence of 20 years.