Coronavirus

This is a sad and alarming sign of the times -- residents packed together, risking coronavirus exposure to line up for unemployment benefits.

The city of Hialeah handed out paper unemployment forms at 4 different locations Tuesday in order to help those who were unable to file through Florida's website or hotline ... and created this troubling scene.

The line was full of desperate folks -- many wearing face coverings, but some not -- waiting for their applications, but clearly not following social distancing guidelines of keeping 6 feet apart.

Florida currently has more than 14,500 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and its death total is approaching 300, so it certainly calls into question the decision to make residents wait in line for unemployment forms.

Meanwhile, food banks across the country -- from Central Texas to Pittsburgh -- have been overburdened far this week with miles-long lines of cars waiting to pick up food for their families.

Feeding South Florida has reported a 600% increase in the number of people asking for food, and it's a similar story for food banks across the U.S.

Joel Osteen's still going big with his Easter service amid the coronavirus pandemic, but of course -- for safety purposes -- all the big names he's recruited will be performing remotely ... for a virtual service.

Sources close to Osteen tell TMZ ... his Lakewood Church in Houston will welcome Kanye West, Mariah Carey and Tyler Perry on Easter Sunday to deliver messages of love and support to his massive audience.

Our sources say Mariah will be part of a special tribute to medical professionals and first responders putting their lives on the line in the battle against COVID-19. We're told she's going to sing her song "Hero" via webcam.

Perry's plan is to deliver words of encouragement to the viewers during this trying time, and Kanye will be back with his choir to provide music for the service ... all while practicing proper social distancing.

Our sources say Kanye and his Sunday Service crew will be performing in L.A. and it will be broadcast over Osteen's megachurch feed.

It's unclear if all these performances will be live or prerecorded, but either way ... it will be one of the most star-studded church events ever.

"Saved by the Barn" star Dan McKernan says just dipping your toe into a plant-based diet could help reduce viral pandemics ... and, of course, spare more of the animals he rescues.

Dan was on "TMZ Live" Tuesday when he made a pitch for the vegan lifestyle, and the positive impact it can have on the planet. He's not militant about it, and instead suggests you start slowly -- a method he says worked for his 63-year-old "stubborn farmer" dad.

He also believes reducing animal consumption will reduce the number of pandemics caused by viruses jumping from animals to humans -- a la the coronavirus.

Dan's main focus, though, is on saving animals across the country and raising them on his Michigan farm. He's had a lot of success ... documented on his new show.

So far, he's saved over 100 animals -- none cuter than his pal, KJ the goat!!! Watch our video with him, we think you'll agree ... and catch the premiere of "Saved By The Barn" Saturday at 10PM on Animal Planet.

When Nike was handed the opportunity to get involved in the country's fight against coronavirus, there was only one way to respond -- just do it.

The Swoosh announced its factories are pivoting to make full-face shields and powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) lenses to help healthcare workers in need.

Nike explained it's repurposing collar-padding from shoes, cords from apparel, like bags, and the plastic used to make the brand's signature Air soles to make the face shields.

... and we gotta admit, they look kinda cool, too.

“The full-face shields help protect healthcare workers’ faces and also help to prolong the length we can safely use a surgical or N95 mask," said Dr. Miko Enomoto, associate professor at the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine.

"Nike’s generous response to the COVID-19 crisis helps to instill an added layer of confidence and support for healthcare workers, that we can safely carry out the jobs we were born to do.”

As we previously reported ... New Balance also got into the mask-making production last week -- with hopes of making 100,000 a week.

Twitter's CEO just beat every other big shot's donation to coronavirus relief by tenfold -- he's dropping ten figures to help, and then rolling whatever's leftover to another great cause.

Jack Dorsey made the stunning announcement Tuesday on his own platform, saying he'd be putting up a billion dollars of his own money -- which he says makes up 28% of his overall wealth -- into a new fund he calls Start Small, LLC ... aimed for COVID-19 efforts.

He adds ... after beating the pandemic, the money that's still there in Start Small will begin being used for something else he's just as passionate about ... girls' health and education, as well as UBI (universal basic income). He's even got a public Google doc to track the money that's available to look at right now. Sure enough, it's valued at just under $1 billion.

Jack also gets into details about how the money will be doled out ... we'll let you read his thread for yourself -- but in short, sounds like he's going the grants route.

Not to get too shark-y here, but the donation -- which is an incredible thing, BTW -- is a major power move on Jack's part, and a little on Twitter's too. Up until now, it appears Jeff Bezos held the record for the biggest COVID-19-related donation at a staggering $100 mil.

Jack's billion blows that out of the water, obviously ... but it's not like these donations are a contest or anything, right? It's also telling that JD is going so public with a gesture like this after a little in-house drama over there at Twitter-land. Recently, some board members were reportedly out to oust him as chief ... but he prevailed in the end and is staying put.

In any case, Jack's cash will be a massive boon to the cause, and hopefully, help us end the pandemic for good before it's starts getting even more out of hand.

Thanks, Jack ... chirp on, brother.

A Baltimore police officer reacted to jeers at a housing complex by loudly coughing at residents without covering his mouth, and it's triggered an investigation.

The video shows the cop walking through the Perkins Homes complex in East Baltimore. Sounded like a few people were giving him crap when he seemed to purposefully cough right at the woman recording him.

She immediately fired back with a bunch of verbal cracks as the cop walked away. Baltimore PD spokeswoman Lindsey Eldridge says, "We have viewed the video, in its entirety, and believe it warranted being forwarded to the Public Integrity Bureau for an internal investigation."

TMZ's confirmed with police the officer, who's a sergeant, is still on active duty right now. It's unclear if he's been tested for coronavirus.

As disturbing as the cop's action was ... the woman recording shouted back some pretty ignorant info herself. For instance, she said ... "I ain't worried about that s**t. Y'all get that s**t, black people don't."

Not only is a total misconception ... there are recent reports indicating COVID-19 is having a more negative impact on the Black community.

Dr. Phil has a few home remedies for pandemic-related stress building up in your body under quarantine -- they're simple and not all that time consuming.

Phil says the first thing ya gotta do is acknowledge life is pretty messed up and stressful right now -- then, make a daily conscious effort to deal with it.

The good news from the good doc -- who joined us Tuesday on "TMZ Live" -- is you just need a very basic exercise -- 10 seconds of tensing up, 10 seconds of relaxation. Watch the vid, Phil does a tutorial.

He also recommends breathing in for 3 seconds and exhaling for 6 to release tension and relieve physical stress.

Seems almost too simple, but Phil told us the mental stress that comes from self-isolation is a very real, and potentially debilitating, thing -- so take time to relax and breathe.

Oh, and when your mind starts racing ... make sure you're thinking about the right kinda stuff. Phil's got a checklist to keep you on the right path.

Colton Underwood looks like a walking clean bill of health after being stricken by coronavirus -- and the first thing on his checklist was a jaunt with his boo.

The ex-'Bachelor' hit the road Monday for a walk with his girlfriend, Cassie Randolph, and her sis, Michelle. The good-looking trio took a stroll down the coast near Huntington Beach, CA ... and Colton's looking good as new, compared to a few weeks ago.

You'll recall ... shortly after he disclosed he'd caught the 'rona -- Colton was looking pretty ill and down in the dumps.

Now he's looking much better and feeling that way, too. He says, "I have made a full recovery from the coronavirus and we managed to keep the entire family healthy as well."

Colton added, on IG ... "I am now working with medical professionals to figure out the best way to support their efforts against the coronavirus."

He also thanked Cass and her fam for caring for him while he was sick.

Anyway, Colton has another reason to celebrate right now -- his new book, "The First Time," is coming out.

Gene Simmons says people griping about being in quarantine -- not to mention acting like maniacs -- need a history lesson to understand how good they've got it.

The KISS frontman joined us Tuesday on "TMZ Live'' to chime in on the wild behavior popping up all over the world as a result of stay-at-home orders, as people seemingly go stir crazy. He says their grandparents had it worse, so grow a pair.

Specifically, Gene's talking about World War II vets and the horrors they endured to fight an enemy. He says the war against COVID-19 is also dire, but unlike your grandpa (or great grandpa), all you gotta do for victory is keep your ass at home.

Of course, he's referring to fools who continue to break quarantine and venture out. He's got a point -- we've seen flocks of people from L.A. to Florida to NYC disregarding guidelines, and doing as they please.

That goes for certain religious groups too, who insist on meeting up in huge groups to worship ... they're screwing up just as much as everyone else, in Gene's eyes.

R. Kelly swung hard to get out of jail over fears he'd catch COVID-19 ... but he struck out 'cause the judge just denied his request.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the judge said among the several reasons why the disgraced singer will NOT get out of jail is because he's still a flight risk. The judge said "[Kelly] is currently in custody because of the risks that he will flee or attempt to obstruct, threaten or intimidate prospective witnesses. The defendant has not explained how those risks have changed."

As for Kelly's fears he'll catch COVID-19 if he remains behind bars ... the judge said there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at MCC in Chicago where Kelly's penned up. The judge also points to measures taken by the Bureau of Prisons in combating the spread of the virus in its facilities ... like suspending all social visits and suspending inmate facility transfers.

What's more ... the judge says she ain't buying Kelly's part of the at-risk group 'cause he "is fifty-three years old, twelve years younger than the cohort of 'older adults' defined by the CDC as at high risk."

Kelly had argued he's had surgery while in jail, but the judge said, "he does not explain how his surgical history places him at a higher risk of severe illness. Moreover, officials in Chicago have advised the government that doctors have completed all treatment for the defendant’s recent operation."

As for Kelly's argument, he can't meet with lawyers to strategize for his July trial ... the judge said Kelly can still communicate via phone and email. And get this ... the judge said it's unlikely his trial will proceed as scheduled in early July ... adding "as conditions return to normal, [Kelly] and his lawyers will have additional time to prepare for trial."

We broke the story ... Kelly claimed the conditions he's under while in prison are "tantamount to making them drink poison." He is currently behind bars in Illinois as he awaits his trial, this after getting slapped with a slew of charges by federal prosecutors in NY.

NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns' mother, Jackie, remains in the ICU and continues to fight her battle with coronavirus ... this according to KAT's old college coach, John Calipari.

The Minnesota Timberwolves center revealed his mother's health status 2 weeks ago ... saying his mom had been placed in a medically induced coma due to complications from  COVID-19.

“Her lungs were getting worse, her cough was getting worse. She was deteriorating," KAT said at the time.

Cal provided the first update on Jackie Monday afternoon saying she continues to receive treatment at the hospital.

“I would say to everybody out there ... Ms. Jackie, Karl Towns’ mother, is still in that hospital. She's fighting, she's there," Calipari said Monday.

“We get updates, every single day we get an update from Karl Sr. about how she’s doing from the nurses at the ICU.”

Cal has one request for everyone ... to keep praying and send positive thoughts towards KAT's family.

Alex Rodriguez is ALL-IN on the idea of breaking ties in MLB games with impromptu home run derbies ... saying Tuesday, "Why not?!"

"I like it," A-Rod said on ESPN's "Get Up." "Let it fly!"

Of course, the wacky idea was first -- at least, seriously -- brought about by Dodgers star Justin Turner last week, who said he wanted sluggers to determine results of tie games.

Under JT's plan ... if teams were knotted up through 10 innings, the big bats would come out, and whoever hit the most dingers in a derby-style finish would earn the W.

A lot of baseball purists called it crazy ... but Rodriguez said with the league playing a truncated and weird schedule in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, he's all for the unique tie-breaker system.

"In 2020, I love everything," A-Rod said. "The one thing we have to signal to the world is, if you're a traditionalist, Major League Baseball is not for you. If you have any naughty, disruptive, crazy idea, make it happen this year. Try everything. Pilot everything."

Rodriguez says when the MLB eventually kicks off again this summer ... he'd even like to see teams open up their batting cages and mic up players daily.

"Let baseball put the best foot forward," Rodriguez said. "The fans want to see more. They want to hear more."

Good doggy. Bad defense.

Atlanta Hawks superstar Trae Young made it look like his french bulldog, Normi, was sliding on ice Monday ... crossing up his baby girl in a hilarious driveway dribble sesh.

Of course, 21-year-old Ice Trae is known for making defenders look like straight-up fools on the court (remember THIS, Andre Iguodala?) ... but picked a more lovable opponent to be his next victim.

The video is great ... Young even taps the ball on Normi's head to officially check the ball ... then it's all Trae from there.

"The Best Defender I’ve ever been up against," Young joked on Instagram.

Young has been trying to be creative during quarantine ... and even did a trick shot challenge with his socks to pass the time. Nice to see his shot isn't getting rusty, either.

Kenya officials have just imposed a country-wide ban on golf ... closing down all courses over fears the play could further the spread of coronavirus.

Health Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe, made the announcement Tuesday, chastising golfers for not properly following social distancing guidelines during the global pandemic.

"It is not a secret that even in golf clubs, golf clubs have also been abused," Kagwe said. "Consequently, all golf clubs must be closed with immediate effect."

Kenya reportedly only has 172 confirmed cases of COVID-19 ... but it's clearly taking every precaution to make sure that number stays low.

Of course, other major areas of the United States have followed similar paths when it comes to golf ... with even Los Angeles banning the sport as well.

However, states like Florida and Arizona are still allowing golfers to hit tee boxes ... pissing off some residents who fear the courses could become coronavirus hot spots.