Celebrity Health

The actress who played the mother of the kid who got eaten in "Jaws," has passed away by a threat that's becoming more real and dangerous than a great white ... COVID-19.

Lee Fierro -- who portrayed Alex Kintner's mom, Mrs. Kintner, in the 1975 classic film -- has passed away due to complications from coronavirus ... according to Martha's Vineyard Times, which first reported her death. The first "Jaws" was shot on location there in Mass.

Fierro doesn't have very many acting credits to her name outside of the 'Jaws' franchise -- in which she reprised her role twice -- but she had an iconic few scenes in the first flick, notably her freak-out on the beach when Alex's blood and shorts wash up on the beach.

Perhaps even more iconic ... her confrontation with Roy Scheider, who played Chief Brody, whom she slapped across the face at Alex's wake. She was pissed he let beachgoers hit the sand despite knowing there was a shark on the loose. Her son was the second-known attack, and as Chief Brody noted ... she wasn't wrong for her criticism of him.

According to the outlet, Fierro was being housed at an assisted living facility in Ohio -- where her family is said to be holding a small ceremony in her honor because of social distancing restrictions.

There's an ancient song by Peter Paul and Mary, which lyrics include this -- "When will they ever learn?" -- and it has sudden relevance today because open-air markets were packed this weekend, and it's insane.

Check out the Studio City Farmers Market in L.A. Sunday, packed with scores of people crowding in ... some of whom were not wearing face masks. Again, the mask protects people from those who might have the virus, and people who know what they're talking about are urging everyone to wear anything other than the professional-grade masks when they're out and about.

And, look at this ... a line of people way closer than 6 feet apart are lining a sidewalk outside of a Hermosa Beach (SoCal.) bar, drinking, talking and violating social distancing rules.

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a temporary suspension of all farmers markets until they could come up with a workable, safe plan. Fact is ... it's not happening in L.A. or elsewhere.

The good news ... Garcetti shut down the Brentwood Farmer's Market after there were insanely large crowds packed in last weekend, but the Market has now changed its ways ... and people are staying appropriately apart.

Queen Elizabeth II just delivered an official palace address to the UK about the coronavirus pandemic -- her basic message ... hang in there, y'all!!!

We're being flip, but that's the gist of Her Majesty's broadcast speech. QE2 tells the British to maintain their resolve, keep their good humor and spirits about them and that together ... we'll all come out on the other side of this challenging time, across the pond and beyond.

You can watch the full speech above, but what's interesting about it is the historical nature of the Queen delivering remarks like this at all -- it rarely happens outside of Christmas.

Sunday's address marks just the fourth time Liz has spoken to the public in an official speech -- again, besides her annual Christmas talks -- during her 68-year reign as Queen of England. So yeah, it's a big deal she felt the need to talk now. The 'rona got to her!

One other interesting note ... according to Deadline, the Queen's speech here was filmed with just one cameraman in the room with her (fully decked out in protective gear) while the rest of the crew monitored and tinkered from other rooms in the building.

A super-popular weekend spot in the nation's capital was super dangerous Saturday, when crowds of people swarmed into a relatively tight space, squarely violating social distancing rules.

Check out the pic of the Wharf, where lots of locals descend to buy fresh seafood ... especially crab legs and shrimp.

D.C. has a stay-at-home order, but people are allowed to go out and shop.  Problem here ... they're WAY too close together. Notice the sign, warning people to stay 6 feet apart.

Some are wearing masks ... but most aren't.

It's actually pretty incredible because at this point you have to be living under a rock not to understand the need to keep your distance.

The Deputy Mayor shut the market down Saturday night.

Well, this is frightening ... a Texas pastor is selling a new cure for the virus ... just blow it away.

Check out this video from Televangelist Kenneth Copeland, who sermonized to his congregation Thursday that with a little wind and heat, he could take the wind out of the sails of the deadly virus.

Copeland, who heads up the Copeland Ministries out of Fort Worth, has been in the biz for 52 years, but this sermon has gotta take the cake.

He has promised his congregants that the virus would end soon.

Elton John has dug deep into his pockets only to pull out a million bucks to protect people living with HIV from contracting the coronavirus.

Sir Elton posted a video, saying, "Today, I’m proud to announce that my Foundation is launching a $1million COVID-19 Emergency Fund to make sure that our frontline partners can respond to the effects of COVID-19 on HIV care for the most marginalized communities around the world."

The singer, who also hosted last Sunday's coronavirus relief concert, Fox Presents the iHeart Living Room Concert for America, has been a driving force in combating the AIDS epidemic for 30 years. People with HIV often have compromised immune systems, so they can be especially vulnerable in contracting the disease.

If necessity really is the mother of invention, then lots of folks have stepped up with their own ways of staying relatively safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

Check out our gallery of homemade protective masks or reasonable facsimiles thereof. From party hats to a giant water bottle ... they hopefully do the trick.

As you know, or should know by now, we're all being advised not to wear the professional-grade masks which are in extremely short supply and reserved for frontline health care workers, so the creative ones are welcome by all.

As for how to make a homegrown mask, the CDC recommends it fit snugly but comfortably and secured with ties or ear loops. It should also include multiple layers of fabric and allow for unrestricted breathing. It should also be laundry friendly.

Demi Lovato and Max Ehrich are here to show you how it's done when you venture out for some grub!!!

Demi and Max, the newly-minted couple who are self-quarantining, hit up Erewhon organic market in L.A. Saturday, and they were following recommendations from the top down -- when you venture out, protect yourself and others.

In case you've been under a rock -- which, in many ways we all have -- we're all supposed to act in public as if we have the disease because a mask and gloves can prevent others from contracting it.

Max, whose credits include "Young and the Restless" and "American Princess," gave us a peek into his and Demi's life this week, along with her trusted pooch, Batman.

If you forgot what it looks like when Hollywood titans meet up for chitchat, take a peek at this.

The likes of Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw joined married couple Michelle Pfeiffer and David E. Kelley as they walked their Pacific Palisades neighborhood on the westside of L.A.

They meandered around the hood late afternoon for about an hour, and were yakking it up the whole time.

Hard to tell from the pic if they're properly social distancing -- 6 feet of separation, please.

L.A. has been a mixed bag when it comes to the stay-at-home order. Many beaches, hiking trails and open-air markets have been crowded this week, despite orders by the Mayor and the Governor.

For some crazy reason, way too many Los Angelenos are hell-bent on violating the mandatory closures in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and in some ways, as the news gets worse, the problems with social distancing increase.

The number of folks on the sand has increased all week in the L.A. area, partly because the weather is good and partly because people want out of their apartments and houses.

Check out the beach in Marina del Rey ... an increasing number of landlubbers are hitting the sand despite mandatory beach closures in L.A. County.

People are using the beach to sun, exercise, surf, paddleboard and walk their dogs -- all of which is now illegal.  Problem is ... there have been no cops patrolling many of the areas and it seems people are not being shooed off the beach or given a ticket. Just a mile south, we've heard cops are out in force ticketing anyone who dares to hit the sand in Hermosa Beach ... but only in sections, it would seem. There too ... social distancing is often being poo-pooed.

The photos in the gallery (above) of a trail bordering Hermosa Beach -- which appears to be out of view from the main roads and general public -- show it's FLOODED with dog walkers and hikers, who aren't even close to being six feet apart.

There have been lots of problems in the L.A. area. Just a few days ago, folks jammed into the Santa Monica Farmers Market.

Forget politics for a minute ... Donald Trump is demanding, of all things, gratitude from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, despite the fact New York's health care system is about to break without these phantom tests, ventilators and PPE's the President constantly claims are rolling out.

Trump was true to form as he MC'd his daily coronavirus briefing, boasting about the federal response ... something in sharp, sharp contrast to the thousands of doctors and nurses who are now drafting their wills because there's nothing to adequately protect them from the disease.

Trump went in on Cuomo, saying he's given him everything imaginable ... maybe he didn't hear about the broken ventilators, the ridiculous competitive bidding among states for lifesaving equipment, the lack of masks, the lack of tests, and on and on.

Trump said Cuomo should be more like CA Gov Gavin Newsom. Here's the thing ... Newsom's a smart guy, and he, like every other leader at this point, knows Trump's enormous ego needs heavy stroking ... or else. Remember, he told Pence not to even call the governors of Washington State and Michigan because they supposedly lacked gratitude.

Here's what clearly escapes Trump. We want leaders who speak up, leaders who raise their voices when the doctors and nurses in their states are getting infected and dying. We need leaders who will stand up to a federal government that STILL will not recommend that EVERY state impose a stay-at-home order ... which is the most absurd thing in this whole messed up situation.