Coronavirus

Cardi B and Fashion Nova's cash cavalry is still finding families in need of financial help during the coronavirus pandemic ... but early winners are already feeling the relief.

Since announcing the Fashion Nova Cares $1 million giveaway on April 8, more than 200 recipients have scored a $1,000 boost ... and it's continuing every HOUR until May 20.

TMZ chatted up a few of the lucky winners about the surprise of getting the good news and how it's helped them out ... here's what they had to say.

Elvine, a nurse's assistant from Massachusetts, tells us ... besides loading up on groceries and essentials for her kids, she's also going to pay $100 of her winnings forward to her neighbor, a mom who recently lost her hotel job.

Kizzy from Tennessee says she’s been unable to work as a cosmetologist since March, which is why she entered for a chance at the Fashion Nova money. She admittedly never expected to win, though ... until she got a wonderful text.

She says she's going to use the cash to get ahead on payments for her SUV, which she uses to drive around her 3 daughters.

Kizzy's incredibly thankful she got picked, and also believes God gave her an assist. She says ... "I’m just truly honored and blessed that they chose me."

Finally, Gala -- a single mother from South Carolina -- tells us the financial boost will help pay off mounting bills, especially since her Army earnings are the sole income for her family, which includes her father.

Gala says it's been overwhelming at times, but this pleasant surprise will certainly help out big time.

No doubt, the promise of more funds to come from Cardi B and Fashion Nova are giving needy families a glimmer of hope.

Sean Penn had an intruder Friday ... a swab that went way up his nose to test for the presence of COVID-19.

Sean's doing great work in the 'Bu ... he helped organize and fund a COVID-19 testing facility through his org, the Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE).

In case you haven't followed it, the swab test collects samples from the nasal passage.

CORE is working the City of Los Angeles and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti to offer drive-through testing free of charge.

Penn has said he hopes the system he set up through CORE will provide a model for other cities and counties around the country.

Jacksonville, FL Beachgoers Don't seem at all concerned with the number of coronavirus deaths and cases on the rise ... because they hit the sand Friday and packed in like sardines.

It's a crazy sight, as the sun worshipers took their chances by getting in close contact with other beachgoers.

Jacksonville's mayor, Lenny Curry, celebrated the trek to the beach saying, "This can be the beginning of the pathway back to normal life."

President Trump is clearly encouraging people to break quarantine, with Tweets like, "LIBERATE MICHIGAN," "LIBERATE VIRGINIA," and "LIBERATE MINNESOTA."

He's clearly dog-whistling, because he threw in this ... "And save your great 2nd Amendment."

Not hard to read between the lines ... he's telling his stalwarts to ignore the advice of doctors, scientists, their governor and mayor, because they're Americans dammit.

Here's Floyd Mayweather doing a preettttyyyy good job of social distancing on a bike ride Friday ... but we gotta ask -- is it The Best Ever job of it???

Maybe not.

Money and around a dozen members of his entourage rolled through downtown Los Angeles  ... and while they seemed to do an OK job of keeping their distance -- it wouldn't exactly make Dr. Fauci happy.

You can see in the pics, only some of the riders -- not including Floyd -- are wearing masks ... while others are awfully close to getting within 6 feet of each other, a big no-no in coronavirus times.

TMZ Sports has learned this isn't a one-time ride either ... we've been told Mayweather and his crew have been on this same ride throughout the week.

Las Vegas is looking into ways to lift coronavirus restrictions and safely reopen the world famous strip -- but it's gonna change your Vegas experience forever.

Our sources in Vegas tell TMZ ... when the casinos reopen, they will absolutely have different layouts and practices, and the biggest issues on the table are cleanliness and spacing.

We're told casinos will have to make sure gamblers don't get too close to one another, and that means spacing out people at table games like blackjack.

The strip sees about 115,000 revelers on an average day, so the risk for spreading the virus remains high while there's no vaccine. As a result, we're told officials' top priority is preventing a COVID-19 flare up.

Our sources say monumental sanitation efforts are being discussed for casinos -- machines will need to be cleaned more than ever before, and they'll need a system to sanitize playing chips, cards and dice -- the 3 surfaces gamblers touch the most.

We're told casino operators are working directly with government officials to hammer out a plan to lift restrictions and reopen the city -- but there are a lot of hurdles. For instance, our sources say they haven't even begun to tackle nightclubs.

As you know ... Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak closed all the state's casinos in mid-March to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and the order's now in place until at least April 30. Sisolak said this week the state isn't even close to lifting restrictions, so don't book those flights just yet.

The Nevada Gaming Board tells TMZ ... safety is a top priority, as well as protecting employees and visitors, and ideas on how to do so safely are being exchanged.

One of the best parts of the NFL Draft is the CRAZY FASHION -- but don't expect to see too many crazy suits this year, thanks to COVID-19.

With the Draft going virtual -- and everyone from players to coaches to execs staying home -- the market for those dope tailored suits has basically dried out.

There's no way for the players to get to their tailors for measurements -- and we're told several players plan on going casual as a result.

One top celebrity tailor put it this way -- "Since it’s a virtual draft this year, there will sadly be no need for suits."

Another huge tailor said, "At this time none of the draftees I would normally have dressed for the occasion have committed to wearing a custom piece this year due to circumstances."

We reached out to the NFL to see if there is a dress code that would require players to dress up for the occasion, but we were told there is no policy regarding clothing.

"It’s up to the individual players," an NFL spokesperson tells us ... but hinted we most likely won't see draftees getting selected while wearing sweatpants.

"In previous years, players who did not attend the Draft but appeared in interviews with NFL Network or ESPN generally wore suits."

It started with wash your hands ... and it's now going to be WIPE YOUR FEET!!!

That's the route many businesses are looking to take in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Center for Disease Control reporting that coronavirus particles can live on shoes and not just on handrails and other surfaces.

Enter the disinfecting shoe mats. TMZ spoke to several companies who offer them and we're told business is boomin' ... as several industries ramp up measures to prevent spread of the virus.

The concept of the mats is pretty simple -- you wipe your feet on the, it sanitizes and disinfects the shoes. One of the big brands is SaniStride, which says its product is 99.99% effective ... and they've seen a jump in sales of over 500% since the middle of March. That CDC report about shoes gave the company another sales boost.

So far, the Oregon-based company has mailed out THOUSANDS of mats with continuing inquiries from nursing homes, hospitals, office buildings, markets, restaurants and rental car companies.

And, there's this ... SaniStride says a few major cruise liners reached out a few weeks ago. It's no secret the cruise industry is taking it on the chin lately ... with multiple coronavirus-related deaths on ships, which have triggered several lawsuits.

The "new normal" is also pushing sales through the roof for an Illinois-based company called allMATS, which says it's backed up on at least 100 orders. We're told customers are ordering in bulk -- 50 to 70 mats at a time. Likewise, Mat Supplier in Washington state says its sales have tripled compared to last year.

Teofimo Lopez was born and bred in NYC ... but the boxing star bolted from the Big Apple before coronavirus decimated the city. So, how'd he know it was a good idea to get the hell outta Dodge?

Well, disaster movies ... where else??

"You ever seen those movies like '2012'? Obviously the major cities are always gonna get hit first."

He's right ... in films like "Deep Impact," "Armageddon," "Independence Day," "The Day After Tomorrow" ... New York City seems to always get obliterated.

So, with that movie knowledge in hand, the 22-year-old undefeated IBF lightweight champ booked it outta NYC.

"Me and my wife, we took our 3 dogs with us. We pretty much just left. Man, honestly, we were lucky. We left 2 or 3 days before it got hit hard," Teofimo tells us.

"And, ya know we had to, due to my health condition. I have asthma. Not a lot of people know about it. I've been diagnosed with is since I was 6 years old. I know coronavirus, COVID-19, it hits the lungs. I just can't risk it."

FYI, NYC is the U.S. epicenter for coronavirus ... with over 122K identified cases, and thousands of deaths.

Lopez, his wife, and their pups ended up in Arkansas -- near the missus' family -- but just 'cause he's away from his gym, doesn't mean he's slackin' when it comes to training.

"I'm still working out. I been 2 weeks already just doing the treadmill, just running, and pretty much pumping weights. Hitting the bag."

In fact, he says he might look a little more swole when the world emerges from the pandemic.

"I'm getting big!"

Lopez has a reason to train ... he was supposed to fight Vasyl Lomachenko -- #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world -- on May 30th at Madison Square Garden ... in what would've been a HUUUGE fight.

That's obviously off for now ... but Teofimo plans on beating up Hi-Tech later this year.

In the meantime, he had a message for Loma ... who's quarantining in Ukraine.

Good luck trying to score Leonardo DiCaprio, Drake or Michael Rubin's All In Challenge fan experiences ... the competition is $TIFF!!!

Leo, Michael and Ellen DeGeneres are all in the top 10 fan experiences ... meaning they have the most entries, as of Friday afternoon. Michael, the 76ers partner who created the All In Challenge, and his ultimate sports fan experience still has one of the most wanted celeb offerings.

As we told you ... ALL proceeds from the auctions and raffles are going to help feed Americans affected by COVID-19.

Leo's holding that No. 1 spot by raffling off a walk-on role in his next Martin Scorsese-directed film "Killers of the Flower Moon," which costars Robert DeNiro. So, a shot at hanging with Leo and Bobby D is as popular as you'd expect.

Rubin, who also owns the popular Fanatics brand, is offering you tickets to almost ALL of the world's biggest sporting events --  the NBA Finals, World Series, Stanley Cup Finals and the Olympics Opening Ceremonies, to name just a few. He also threw in a $100k Fanatics gift card!!!

Ellen's giving someone a chance to be her next co-host. Here's the rest of the celebs within the top 10 ... although, in no particular order:

- Justin Timberlake (Pebble Beach Golf with Bill Murray)
- Drake (Fly Air Drake, OVO & Nike Gear, Nightclub, Concert)
- Kevin Hart (Walk-on movie role)
- Matthew McConaughey (University of Texas football game)
- TikTok stars Charli & Dixie (Shopping, concert and shoot TikTok vids)
- Justin Bieber (Private performance at your home)
- Gary Vaynerchuk ($25k Wine Library shopping spree, "Trash Talk" podcast)

Of course, that list excludes some awesome auction items, like the ones Tom Brady, Magic Johnson and Peyton Manning are offering -- but those big-ticket items have also helped the All In Challenge already bring in almost $8.5 million!!!

A Fashion Nova employee has contracted the coronavirus, setting off a massive cleaning process and resulting in several employees being sent home.

According to a spokesperson for FN Logistics ... the employee who recently tested positive for COVID-19 worked at the warehouse in Sante Fe, CA. Their most recent day on the job was April 15.

The rep says the worker is now home under quarantine for 14 days. The company also told anyone who came in contact with this person to stay home in quarantine for the next 2 weeks ... with pay.

We're told, all Fashion Nova employees have been instructed to stay home if they are experiencing any of the common symptoms of coronavirus -- coughing, fever, trouble breathing -- and contact HR.

In addition ... the FN rep says the area where the infected employee worked was immediately shut down and disinfected. The entire distribution facility was closed Thursday night, so a cleaning company could complete a deep clean ... using only CDC-approved products.

We're told other precautionary measures are being taken, such as temperature checks for those entering the building and ensuring social distancing guidelines are maintained by limiting the daily headcount.

As we reported ... Fashion Nova, along with brand ambassador Cardi B, is giving away $1,000 per hour right now to people needing financial relief due to the pandemic.

Willamina is a squirrel with kick-ass timing -- she's now living in the lap of luxury, because she showed up in a Louisiana woman's home just as quarantine began.

So, here's the story ... just as Louisiana went on a statewide lockdown, Emily Istre was asked to foster a baby squirrel. Emily's mom had found it injured in her yard. Willamina had a badly infected eye and was dangerously malnourished, but over the last 4 weeks ... that's all turned around.

Yeah, it's a feel-good story, but it also makes for some pretty strange video. Emily told us Willamina is now looking at her as the mama squirrel she never knew -- and also as a tree.

Willamina's eye has healed, but the infection left her blind, and she's clearly making herself right at home ... running up and down her adoptive mother no matter what's happing in the house.

We know what you're thinking, and the squirrel's been tested. No rabies, but she does have her own IG page now. Naturally.

Emily's rehabbed sick animals before -- usually birds -- but always released them to the wild. Watch the video ... she explains why Willamina's a different story.

Will the real Slim Shady please stand up??

He sure will ... and it's none other than Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre, who bravely let his daughter and her friends dye his hair in the name of quarantine boredom!!!

The NFL legend showed off his yellowish/orangish new look on CBS Sports HQ on Friday ... and the dude looks like he's an L.A. guy now!!

Favre was asked to pull off his hat to show the bold color ... and the guy didn't shy away from flaunting his orange noggin ... a look we've NEVER seen from #4 before.

So ... why, Brett Favre??

"My daughter and 2 of her classmates have been quarantined at the house," Favre explains.

BF says his daughters initially wanted him to make a TikTok ... but he was awful, so they tried something else.

"We got on the subject of colored hair and I said, 'color my hair, whatever!'

At first, they tried to go with a blonde look ... but Favre admits it looked too close to his grey/silver look.

"I said, 'let's go with something crazy like orange'. So, here we are."

Now, Favre claims the hair is orange ... but we're getting MAJOR Eminem vibes.

Yellow ... orange ... who cares?! Bottom line -- Favre is the ultimate sport for sacrificing his hair for his daughter's entertainment.

French Montana says the coronavirus pandemic has brought one huge issue to the forefront for hip-hop artists -- whether or not they've saved for a rainy day.

The rapper joined "TMZ Live" Friday and touched on how the current state of the world can really make you appreciate what ya got -- but it's also a scary financial situation for many artists who live check to check, just like millions of non-famous Americans.

French is not in that boat ... he says he made sure to do a lot of saving while also spending a bunch. He says that's not the case for a lot of other rappers ... and anticipates some will be holding fire sales of prior high-ticket purchases.

No, he doesn't name names.

FM also dropped a new single Friday -- called "That's A Fact" -- and directed the music video too, which is set to be released Monday. He says it's heavy on COVID-19 imagery because ... well, that's what was available while directing under quarantine.

This isn't the first time French has gotten behind the camera -- he also directed the massively successful "Unforgettable" vid in 2017 -- and says that's his other passion.

Superheroes will NOT unite at Comic-Con this year ... the event's been nixed for the first time in history due to COVID-19 concerns.

Organizers announced the stunning though understandable decision Friday morning citing pandemic concerns. It's the first time in the event's 50-year history that the celebrated San Diego event gets canceled. Organizers hope the event returns July 22-25, 2021.

Comic-Con released a statement that said, in part, "Recognizing that countless attendees save and plan for its conventions each year, and how many exhibitors and stakeholders rely upon its events for a major portion of their livelihood, they had hoped to delay this decision in anticipation that COVID-19 concerns might lessen by summer."

The statement went on, "Continuous monitoring of health advisories and recent statements by the Governor of California have made it clear that it would not be safe to move forward with plans for this year."

What's more ... WonderCon in Anaheim -- initially slated for April 10-12 -- has been rescheduled for March 26-28, 2021. Organizers also said those who bought badges for Comic-Con 2020 "will have the option to request a refund or transfer their badges to Comic-Con 2021. All 2020 badge holders will receive an email within the next week with instructions on how to request a refund."

Exhibitors for the event will also have the option to request a refund or transfer their payments to 2021. Expect an email. Also ... Comic-Con's official hotel will automatically be canceling all hotel reservations and refunding all deposits made through them.

Comic-Con -- and WonderCon -- are just the latest events to get wiped out due to the health crisis.