Coronavirus

The King of the Hail Mary is answering prayers in Northern California ... Aaron Rodgers just donated $1 MILLION to help struggling small businesses in the area where he grew up.

80 restaurants and retail businesses in Butte County, CA -- including Chico (Aaron's hometown) -- will receive funds from Aaron's massive 7-figure donation to help cover rent and other operating costs.

The goal is to float the businesses for the next 3 months -- and maybe even longer -- while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on.

"Small, locally owned businesses are the heart and soul of a community," Rodgers said in a statement Monday.

"In the applications and the videos, it was heart-wrenching to hear about all the obstacles facing restaurants and retail establishments. So many of them are struggling just to stay in business but remain hopeful that there’s an end to this."

Rogers made the donation in association with the North Valley Community Foundation -- which says the NFL star initially pledged $500k ... but DOUBLED his contribution "after seeing the need" in the community.

"Aaron is such an incredible person," NVCF President and CEO Alexa Benson-Valavanis said.

"He looked at everything, decided he wanted to do more, and doubled down on his original $500,000 commitment. He is such a champion for his hometown."

Aaron personally called 9 of the businesses to inform them about the donation -- which must have been a thrill in so many ways!!

Rodgers -- who has reportedly banked more than $240 million in contract money in his 16 NFL seasons -- has come through for Butte County in the past.

He donated $1 mil to help recovery efforts after the Camp Fire of 2018 -- and has also been involved in coronavirus and North Complex Fire relief efforts, according to the NVCF.

R. Kelly might feel like he's trapped in a prison cell, but he's in a better place than much of the country when it comes to being vaccinated ... because we’ve learned he's already received his second dose.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the incarcerated singer's as COVID-safe as can be, after recently receiving shot #2 from the Bureau of Prisons at MCC Chicago, where's he's currently housed while awaiting trial.

We're told Kelly got his first dose in January and the second this month, so he's now fully inoculated.

According to the BOP ... 63 inmates at MCC Chicago have been fully vaccinated so far, along with 128 staff members.

As we reported ... Kelly tried twice, and failed twice, to get released from lockup during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic due to the risk of contracting the disease.

He doesn't have to worry nearly as much about that anymore with a roughly 95 percent efficacy rate with the vaccines ... but his trial still looms. It's currently scheduled for September.

Abigail Breslin's dad had died from COVID, and the actress has shared her grief.

The "Zombieland" star posted 78-year-old Michael Breslin passed away Friday, adding, "Hard to write this. Harder than I thought. I'm in shock and devastation ... my sweet, perfect, amazing, heroic, wonderful dada passed away after my family and I said goodbye. It was COVID-19 that cut my sweet daddy’s life too short."

Michael had been suffering from COVID this month and his condition deteriorated ... he was eventually placed on a ventilator and several days ago lost consciousness.

24-year-old Abigail's siblings, Ryan and Spencer, also shared thoughts about their dad.

Michael worked in telecommunications and worked as a computer programmer and a consultant.

He was 78.

Here's what band practice looks like now at a recently reopened high school in Washington state -- still making music, but in COVID-safe bubbles.

The bright green tents are the new norm now for the Wenatchee High School band ... and it looks like some instruments are better suited to this than others.

Check out this student stuffing his sousaphone into the bubble tent for Tuesday's band practice ... looks pretty snug. Guess the school went with a one size fits all approach. Can you say, public school budget issues?

The scene here is the complete opposite of The Flaming Lips concert last month in Oklahoma City, where it was the crowd in space bubbles instead of the actual band.

Johnny Manziel underwent emergency dental surgery on Wednesday that will keep him out of the FCF's final regular-season game this weekend, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

28-year-old Manziel, the starting QB for the Zappers [0-2], left the Fan Controlled Football league's bubble environment in Atlanta and traveled back home to Scottsdale, AZ for the procedure, a league spokesperson tells us.

No word on Johnny's specific medical condition -- but obviously, his health is the priority and the league is working with Johnny to make sure he gets the care he needs.

We're told Manziel -- who had the surgery yesterday -- is already back in the gym ... and the league expects him to return to the FCF bubble in hopes he'll be ready to go for the team's playoff game on March 6.

A league rep says Manziel will have to meet "health-and-safety protocols and quarantine procedures" before he's allowed back -- but again, no one is anticipating an issue.

In the meantime, we're told Manziel will appear on the Week 3 Twitch broadcast as a "special guest" (along with Joe Montana) -- so Johnny fans can still get their fix of the Heisman winner.

Jon Hamm, Audrey Hepburn, Jimmy Fallon and Al Roker are inviting New Yorkers to dine out in the pandemic ... and you can be sure they're not carrying the virus.

Celebrity wax figures from Madame Tussauds in New York City are creating a new dining experience at the legendary Peter Luger Steak House ... you can toast with Jon at the bar, hang out with Audrey and share a much-needed laugh with Jimmy.

Oh, and if folks get lost inside the sprawling restaurant -- it's been a while since many have gone out to eat -- Al's waiting to direct them to the 2nd floor.

Restaurants in the Big Apple just got the green light to increase occupancy to 35 percent starting Friday, thanks to Governor Andrew Cuomo, so Peter Luger is bringing out the big guns and having these celeb wax figures fill empty seats to maintain social distancing measures.

AMAZING VIDEO!!!!

Check out this rugby team from Fiji -- singing a BEAUTIFUL song from their hotel balconies to thank the staff for taking care of them during a mandatory COVID quarantine.

The team is the Kaiviti Silktails -- the guys are currently in Australia to participate in the Ron Massey Cup, a big rugby tournament in New South Wales.

But, since Australia doesn't mess around when it comes to COVID, all players were ordered to quarantine at a hotel for 2 weeks before they're allowed to head into public.

The guys have been holed up at the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel in central Sydney -- and wanted to show their appreciation to the staff ... so they got on their balconies and broke out in song AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL!!!

We're not sure which song they're singing (if you know, feel free to write in and let us know!) ... but it's an incredible sight and these dudes can SANG!!!

Clemson DE Justin Foster -- who missed the entire 2020 season after a brutal battle with COVID -- says he's officially done with football, explaining the virus, asthma and allergies have made it too difficult to play.

The senior -- who was an honorable mention All-ACC player during his last full season in 2019 -- said his health is improving after contracting coronavirus in August, but he still has "a way to go" before he's fully healthy.

"For those unaware, I was born with asthma and allergies that, when active, affect my ability to breath normally," Foster said in a statement Wednesday.

"The combination of these conditions, along with contracting COVID, made for a severe difficulty to perform physically."

Foster continued, "While my situation has improved, I am not in a position now, nor do I see that position soon, to step back on the field."

Foster was expected to be a starter for Clemson last season as well as this upcoming season after logging 4.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss in '19.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said he tried to talk Foster out of the decision, explaining, "I checked his oil ... He's ready to move on."

Swinney added he thought Foster had NFL potential.

"I believe, as Coach Swinney says, that 'the best is yet to come,'" Foster said. "I think that is true for Clemson University, for the Clemson Tigers, and my future."

Travis Scott's flash mob-type gathering on the streets of West Hollywood might cost him -- because city officials are taking a closer look to see if he broke pandemic regulations.

L.A.'s Dept. of Public Works tells TMZ ... the city did not issue a permit for Travis' Cactus Jack newsstand Tuesday in WeHo, as we're told the city's been frowning on dishing 'em out lately due to COVID-19 -- especially for non-essential gatherings like this.

In light of that, we're told Public Works plans to consult with the City Attorney's office on any possible actions they might wanna take -- including potential fines. Public Works did note to us that even though they do issue citations for permitting violations ... it wasn't certain that would be done in this case.

As we reported ... Travis assembled dozens of bodies at a newsstand, which he emblazoned with his Cactus Jack signage -- all as a way to announce the 1st issue of his "Utopia Issue" of i-D Magazine. Limited editions were being distributed to the masses.

You'll recall ... Travis got dinged for something very similar not too long ago in the SoCal city of Downey, which only ended up costing a couple hundred bucks -- and McDonald's covered the tab for him.

Garth Brooks' wife has tested positive for COVID-19 ... and even though he's tested negative, he's going into quarantine with her nevertheless.

According to Garth's rep ... the couple went into quarantine after a member of their team tested positive for COVID, and subsequent tests showed Garth's wife, Trisha Yearwood, tested positive as well, while he tested negative.

Garth said she's dealing with some symptoms but there's reason to remain optimistic. The singer said, "Officially, she's diagnosed as 'on her way out of the tunnel' now, though, which I'm extremely thankful for." He added, "Anyone who knows me knows my world begins and ends with Miss Yearwood, so she and I will ride through this together. And anyone who knows her knows she's a fighter and she's been doing everything right, so I know we'll walk out on the other side of this thing together."

Travis Scott's whipped up another frenzy over the launch of one of his new projects ... this time it went down in front of a newsstand.

The rapper surprised fans Tuesday by announcing a pop-up shop in WeHo to promote his new "i-D Magazine." As you can see ... it drew a HUGE crowd clamoring to see him, and maybe get an autograph.

Eventually, Travis had to be escorted from his excited fans by security to his getaway ride ... but not before hyping them up one more time.

The shop was apparently selling limited edition Cactus Jack merch to go with the 'Utopia Issue' magazine collab with Spike Jonze and Robert Rodriguez.

As you may recall ... Travis was promoting another one of his Cactus Jack projects -- a combo meal at McDonald's -- back in September when he drew another massive crowd that nearly mobbed him before he was whisked away.

NASCAR is clearly NOT playing around about its COVID safety rules ... it just dropped the hammer on Chip Ganassi for a violation, hitting the famed team owner with both a ban and a fine.

NASCAR officials say at a race at Daytona International Speedway last weekend, Ganassi brought "a non-essential individual that was restricted from the footprint" into the competition area.

Obviously, it's a huge no-no during the pandemic ... the org is trying like hell to limit any potential spread of the coronavirus, and unauthorized guests certainly compromise that.

So, to send a stern message, NASCAR slapped Ganassi with a one-race suspension as well as a $30,000 fine.

Ganassi will have the opportunity to appeal ... but, for now, he's barred from this weekend's races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Andy Reid’s iconic face shield just reached Hall of Fame status ... 'cause the Pro Football H.O.F. just announced the Chiefs coach's COVID-19-friendly look is getting put on display in Canton!!

The Hall of Fame announced the newest addition to its "Pro Football Today Gallery" on Monday ... which will now feature the same hat and face mask the legendary coach wore throughout part of the 2020 season.

Of course, Reid became an instant meme when his shield fogged up like crazy during Week 1 of the NFL season ... which Coach later referred to as "brutal."

After the game, Reid had their equipment director, Allen Wright, fix the issue with an anti-fogging product. He eventually switched to wearing a face mask in order to meet newly introduced league protocols.

The Hall points out it's the same mask Reid wore as he secured his 230th win as a coach during Week 9 ... when he moved into 5th place all time.

COVID-19 has claimed an astonishing number of American lives -- surpassing half a million Sunday -- more than we lost on the battlefield in three combined wars.

Compare the numbers .... there were 291,000 American deaths in WWII. There were 47,434 American battle deaths during the Vietnam War. There were 33,739 American battle deaths in the Korean War.

Compare those numbers to COVID ... as of this post 502,000 Americans have died, and the numbers keep going up. Despite the vaccines, some doctors and scientists believe there could still be a new, devastating wave of deaths because of highly-transmissible variants.

The good news, of course -- the vaccines are going into arms at a rapid pace .... lately around 1.5 million per day. Still, we are nowhere close to vaccinating enough people to achieve herd immunity. Around 70% of Americans -- possibly even more -- must be vaccinated to achieve that goal.

As you know ... there's a lot of skepticism over the vaccine for various reasons. Some people think it was rushed, and others -- especially African-Americans who endured shocking abuse in the disgraceful Tuskegee experiment -- just don't trust it or the government when it comes to vaccines.

There has been a slew of stories about the vaccines, suggesting they may not be effective as variants arise ... and lots of people resistant to the vaccines seem to be saying, what's the point?

In any case, we've lost more than half a million Americans to COVID.

"New Amsterdam" star Jocko Sims is shaking his damn head at the 2 young women in Florida who posed as grandmas to get the COVID vaccine ... but he concedes it just shows how desperate people are right now.

The TV doc -- he plays Dr. Floyd Reynolds on the medical drama -- was outside Rockefeller Plaza Friday in NYC when we downloaded him on the fake grannies who were somehow able to get their first dose ... but got busted trying to get their second vaccine shot.

Jocko's incredulous and calls the "little Mrs. Doubtfires" ridiculous for what they tried to pull ... especially when there's a clear reason why older people are getting vaccinated first.

He says it's an affront to those who've lost loved ones to the coronavirus and people struggling with it currently ... but at the same time, he does recognize it's a little funny.

A couple of Florida women tried to pull off a "Bosom Buddies"-esque ruse -- except they dressed up as old ladies -- in order to get vaccinated ... but it didn't work, at least not this time.

According to Dr. Raul Pino -- the health administrator for Orange County, FL -- the 2 women showed up at a coronavirus vaccination site this week "dressed up as grannies" in an attempt to get a shot.

Pino says their get-ups included granny glasses, but the women were only 34 and 44 years old ... and you have to be over 65 to be eligible for the COVID vaccine in the state.

Here's the thing, though -- Dr. Pino says the women presented valid Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cards indicating they HAD received their first vaccine doses, adding ... "I don’t know how they escaped the first time."

The health administrator claims there was another recent instance of a man trying to pretend to be his father of the same name in order to get a shot, and warned of people "faking it" in order to skip the line.

The 2 granny impersonators were not given the vaccine but were also not charged with any crime ... though they might be issued trespass warnings.