Coronavirus

Gerard Butler's doing his part to ensure the Olympics go off without a hitch -- coronavirus be damned -- by carrying the torch in the only city you'd expect to find him ... Spaaaarta!!!

You could say the "300" star was on his home turf Friday morning as he joined the Olympic torch relay. Rocking a Tokyo 2020 shirt, he carried the flame from Mystras, Greece into Sparta.

Once he arrived he addressed the crowd and, naturally, he had to say his most famous line. Hell, they didn't invite him to the relay for his good looks. Okay, let's be honest, that face doesn't hurt.

The relay started Thursday in Ancient Olympia, and will wind its way to Athens on March 19. From there it'll start its global journey and -- barring postponement or cancellation -- end up in Tokyo in July.

The video of Gerard doing the torch hand-off is interesting because, as you'd imagine, there's a crowd of reporters and photographers surrounding him. No one is maintaining a distance of 6 feet. If you're panicked about coronavirus ... it was not the place to be.

But, hey ... he said the line.

The UFC will NOT cancel events in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic -- with Dana White saying he made the decision to proceed after talking about the virus with President Trump.

"I talked to the President and the Vice President of the United States today about this and they're taking this very serious and they're saying 'be cautious and be careful but live your life and stop panicking,'" White said on ESPN.

"Everybody is panicking and instead of panicking we're actually getting out there and working with doctors and health officials and the government to figure out how to keep the sport safe and how we can continue to put on events."

Of course, UFC is scheduled to host UFC Fight Night 170 on Saturday, headlined by the main event -- Kevin Lee vs. Charles Oliveira.

That fight will still take place in Brazil -- but with no fans in the building.

In a video statement to fans, White said the UFC is "closely monitoring the situation with coronavirus and its potential impact on UFC athletes, staff and fans around the world."

White says other events could be moved from other cities and countries to the UFC APEX arena in Las Vegas.

It’s a grave rush.

It's a little dark, but some people are planning for eternity in the wake of the coronavirus.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery has been barraged by death-obsessed customers apparently panicked by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Never seen anything like this before. It’s crazy,” co-founder Yogu Kanthiah told us.

Kanthiah says customers are dropping wads to buy pre-death plots and secure a spot at Hollywood Forever’s bucolic grounds -- where more than 200 celebs are resting in peace.

Arguably, these premortem purchases may be a tad premature. But, maybe not.

“It’s similar to people going to Costco -- they don’t need all the toilet paper and sanitizer, but they’re buying it anyway,” Kanthiah said.

Take heed… if you’re aiming to get interred or cremated at Hollywood Forever near legends like Judy Garland or punk god Johnny Ramone, it will set you back a handsome sum.

For a crypt in this dirt, it costs around $7,000 and balloons to $19,000 for a prime position in the cemetery’s VIP section along the lakeside property, aptly named Garden of Legends.

A tradition unlike any other ... has just bit the dust --  at least for now.

The Augusta National Golf Club has announced the 2020 Masters Tournament -- the most prestigious event in pro golf -- is postponed over coronavirus.

"Respecting the health and well-being of everyone associated with these events and the citizens of the Augusta community, the 2020 Masters tournament, the Augusta National Women's Amateur and the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals have been postponed."

The Masters was scheduled to kick off on April 9 at Augusta -- and organizers had considered holding the tourney without fans.

But, as the pandemic grows and health experts warn against public gatherings of any kind, the powers that be decided to pull the plug ... at least for now.

Augusta chairman Fred Ridley says ... "Ultimately, the health and well-being of everyone associated with these events and the citizens of the Augusta community led us to this decision."

"We hope this postponement puts us in the best position to safely host the Masters Tournament and our amateur events at some later date."

"We will continue to work with the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Office of the Governor, the Georgia Department of Public Health, the City of Augusta and all other local authorities. We are grateful to all of these entities for their exceptional efforts and guidance."

Unclear when officials are looking to reschedule -- seems everyone is in wait and watch mode.

Supercuts is seeing its bottom-line cut to shreds by the coronavirus pandemic ... because folks just ain't sitting down in barber chairs anymore.

The number of customers at several Supercuts locations are down a whopping 60 to 80 percent in the past couple days ... this according to several Supercuts managers, who tell TMZ the lack of traffic is gonna force them to cut down on shifts for hairstylists.

The absence of customers is so devastating, a barber at one location tells us they only had 3 customers during Thursday's 6-hour shift.

Obviously, the lack of business comes as fears mount over the spread of the virus and folks are faced with a new daily reality.

Some Supercuts are part of Regis Corporation -- others are franchised -- and the managers under the Regis Corp. umbrella tell us their storefronts are being supplied with extra hand sanitizer for those brave souls still coming through for a cut.

The precautions don't end there ... the same managers tell us their stores are sanitizing everything between each haircut, which are few and far between.

Charles Barkley says he's in the middle of a self-quarantine after getting tested for the coronavirus ... this after admitting he hasn't been feeling well.

Sir Chuck called into TNT's "NBA On TNT" broadcast Thursday night and said he's in self-quarantine for 48 hours as he awaits test results on the coronavirus.

The NBA Hall of Famer said he's been feeling under the weather after traveling from New York City to Atlanta, and that's why he went for a coronavirus test.

Remember ... Charles was one of the first celebs publicly advocating for the cancelation of March Madness earlier this week due to the deadly pandemic. The powers that be eventually scrapped the big dance altogether after conferences started canceling their own tournaments.

"America's Got Talent" is feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic ... the reality series is putting the kibosh on live audiences.

Sources confirm to TMZ ... 'AGT' will tape episodes without fans in the seats for the foreseeable future, due to fears over the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

The decision comes on the heels of Heidi Klum falling ill on set and Howie Mandel showing up to work in a full hazmat suit.

As we first reported, Heidi felt physically ill before shooting 'AGT' in Pasadena on Tuesday, and she left the taping. When Heidi left, sources said the judges told the audience she had a case of suspected food poisoning, and Sofia Vergara cracked a joke about it.

Eric Stonestreet filled in for Heidi as a judge during Wednesday's taping.

Folks on social media are posting emails from 'AGT' about taping cancellations. The notices say, "Out of an abundance of caution, America's Got Talent is suspending all tapings with a studio audience until further notice."

As we first reported ... "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" scrapped live audiences over coronavirus fears, and "The Price Is Right" is going dark altogether for two weeks in the hopes the virus subsides by then.

The MLS is following the NBA's lead ... suspending its season over coronavirus concerns.

The soccer league made the decision Thursday, saying the season will be put on hold for 30 days -- this despite no MLS players coming out as COVID-19 positive yet.

"Our clubs were united today in the decision to temporarily suspend our season," MLS commissioner Don Garber said.

It's unclear when and how the league will make up the missed games ... but it appears this is the solution for most major sports across the U.S. when it comes to handling fears over the virus.

In addition to the MLS and the NBA ... the ATP Tour announced a six-week suspension of the men’s professional tennis tour as well.

NHL officials have said they're still looking into all options for their season ... but a suspension of play appears to be definitely on the table for the hockey league.

The PGA Tour, meanwhile, is still going forward with THE PLAYERS Championship in Florida this weekend ... and the MLB is still playing its spring training games in front of fans in both Florida and Arizona. Although both leagues say they're still in heavy talks with health officials over their next moves.

So far, only two major pro athletes in the U.S. have been revealed as coronavirus positive -- Utah Jazz stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.

Cavs star Kevin Love is stepping up to help the hundreds of arena staffers out of work during the NBA suspension ... donating a HUGE amount of money to support the hard workers in Cleveland.

Love shared his feelings about the league shutting down on Thursday ... saying his concern isn't about basketball, but the people who help make the game day experience possible.

"Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations," Love said in a statement. "And the fear and anxiety resulting from the recent outbreak of COVID-19 can be extremely overwhelming."

Of course, the Association decided to suspend the 2019-20 season Wednesday ... after Utah Jazz stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell tested positive for coronavirus.

"Through the game of basketball, we've been able to address major issues and stand together as a progressive league that cares about the players, the fans, and the communities where we work."

Love -- who is outspoken about mental health awareness -- says his foundation will write up a check for $100k to "support staff that had a sudden life shift due to the cancellation of the NBA season."

Along with the contribution ... the Cavs released a statement saying the team is currently working on finding a way to financially help the employees during the time off.

"The Price is Right," one of the most enduring game shows in the history of TV is going dark for 2 weeks with the hope the coronavirus will subside by then ... TMZ has learned.

The show is going the way of so many other entertainment shows ... some are shooting without audiences and some are going down altogether ... at least for the time being.

Production sources tell us they are shutting the shown down for the obvious reasons -- protecting the crew, Drew and the audience from contracting the disease.

As we reported, so many shows are changing the way they do business ... "Jeopardy!," 'Wheel,' "The View," "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," 'Ellen' and 'Live with Kelly and Ryan' are all shooting without audiences.

Various sources at a number of entertainment companies are all telling us the same story ... they are struggling to find a balance between producing content and keeping staff safe.

Scary times.

So much for your bracket ... March Madness is CANCELED.

The NCAA made the announcement moments ago -- saying they're pulling the plug on the biggest college basketball tournament of the year ... just days before it was set to tip off.

"This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities," the NCAA said in a statement.

Both the men's and women's tournaments are affected -- as well as every other Winter and Spring NCAA championship including the College Baseball World Series.

Not too shocking considering every other major sports organization is either canceling or postponing events ... from the NBA to the MLB, even NASCAR and pro tennis.

The announcement comes in the wake of influential stars like Charles Barkley putting pressure on the powers that be to cancel the tourney. Chuck said it's just too great of a health risk to the players ... even if they play in empty arenas.

Starbucks -- a place millions of Americans rely on for free wireless as much as coffee -- is now considering shutting down in-store operations due to the coronavirus.

Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson penned a letter to customers outlining how it plans to combat the spread of the coronavirus -- and says they "may adapt the store experience by limiting seating to improve social distancing, enable mobile order-only scenarios for pickup via the Starbucks App or delivery via Uber Eats, or in some cases only the Drive Thru will be open."

The coffee giant says that as a last resort it could shut down the store all together "if we feel it is in the best interest of our customers and partners."

These are precautionary steps in addition to increased cleaning and sanitizing procedures for its thousands of stores. For the record, Starbucks says it's currently maintaining regular operations across the U.S. and Canada, and will modify operations on a community-by-community and store-by-store basis.

Starbucks choosing to take extreme measures is not surprising ... considering the NBA, MLS, NHL, MLB and a slew of other corporations have shut down regular operations during the health crisis.

As we told you ... America's biggest buffet restaurant chains are staying open, for now, but rolling out new hygiene measures.

27-year-old Utah Jazz superstar Rudy Gobert says he's "embarrassed" for acting so recklessly about coronavirus ... and he's apologizing "to the people that I may have endangered."

The NBA center is at the center of the health crisis after he tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Just days before his diagnosis, Gobert was clowning around about the issue with reporters, and jokingly rubbed his hands all over microphones and recorders.

Now, no one's laughing ... especially with Gobert's teammate, Donovan Mitchell, testing positive as well.

In fact, Jazz players griped about Gobert's behavior to ESPN -- accusing him of being careless.

Now, Gobert's breaking his silence after the positive test ... and it's clear he's remorseful for the whole ordeal.

"The first and most important thing is I would like to publicly apologize to the people that I may have endangered," Gobert said.

"At the time, I had no idea I was even infected. I was careless and make no excuse. I hope my story serves as a warning and causes everyone to take this seriously."

"I will do whatever I can to support using my experience as a way to educate others and prevent the spread of this virus."

Gobert thanked everyone who has reached out to him since the news broke ... and reaffirmed he will be okay.

"I have gone through so many emotions since learning of my diagnosis…mostly fear, anxiety, and embarrassment."

Certain parts of LAX are now a "no handshake zone" ... the latest precaution in the face of a daunting pandemic.

Check out this sign from the Delta Airlines terminal at one of the world's busiest airports ... handshaking is a big no-no until further notice. The sign, posted at the airport information desk, also advises folks to be considerate of others and wash their hands regularly.

Remember, Dr. Oz is on a crusade is on a to replace handshakes with fist bumps in the wake of the rapidly spreading coronavirus.

The reason, according to the TV doc -- COVID-19 is 5 times more contagious than the seasonal flu, and handshakes transfer 10 times more bacteria than a fist bump.

Someone might want to alert Donald Trump about the dangers of handshakes ... he's on video shaking hands with foreign leaders on his recent trip to India, and today he decided to lie about it.

Be safe out there, folks ... especially in the airport ... and remember, just pound it.

NBA star Donovan Mitchell has tested positive for COVID-19 -- AKA coronavirus -- just hours after his Utah Jazz teammate, Rudy Gobert, was diagnosed.

The 23-year-old All-Star has not publicly commented, but ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski says players seem to be pointing the finger at Gobert not taking proper precautions.

"Jazz players privately say that Rudy Gobert had been careless in the locker room touching other players and their belongings," Woj says ... "Now a Jazz teammate has tested positive."

Media members are upset with Gobert also after he jokingly rubbed his hands all over mics and recorders while talking with reporters earlier this week (before he was formally diagnosed).

Of course, due to Gobert's health status ... Wednesday night's Jazz vs. Thunder game was postponed just minutes before tipoff and both teams were quarantined while the players were in the locker room.

The NBA has already suspended the season -- and there are rumblings play could resume in August ... but for now, league execs are trying to figure things out.

The coronavirus outbreak is wreaking havoc in the sports world -- several major events have been canceled or postponed ... including La Liga soccer games, ATP tennis tournaments and more.

As we previously reported, Charles Barkley is calling for the NCAA to cancel the March Madness tournament ... but so far, it's still scheduled to move forward.

President Donald Trump has suggested Olympic officials postpone the 2020 Games in Tokyo over coronavirus fears ... saying it's better to delay than perform without crowds.

Trump -- along with Ireland's prime minister, Leo Varadkar -- were taking questions from the media about the global COVID-19 pandemic ... when POTUS was asked directly if Japan should cancel the Games.

"Maybe they postpone it for a year," Trump said ... "Maybe that's not possible. I guess it's never happened with the Olympics."

The Games are currently scheduled to kick off in late July.

Trump says "it's a shame" the outbreak could impact the Olympics because from what he's seen, Japan was doing an amazing job setting up the country for the massive event.

But, POTUS explained ... he thinks it's better to push the games for a year so the world can get a grip on the pandemic.

Plus, Trump says he likes that idea "better than having empty stadiums all over the place ... better than doing it with no crowd."

Trump insisted the United States is handling the crisis well -- and says things will eventually get better and the virus will "go away."