Celebrity Health

Tyler Perry isn't jumping to reopen his 330-acre Atlanta studio complex, but we've learned he's working on a really unique, interesting and safe way to shoot TV shows there during the coronavirus pandemic.

Studio sources tell TMZ, Tyler has a plan he's currently running up the flagpole with his studio execs, and it goes like this. Productions that shoot at his facility would have the cast and crew check in on the first day of filming. Everyone would be tested, and everyone who tests negative would be invited on the lot, where they will live during the entire production.

As for where they'd live, well, there's plenty of options. The facility used to be an army base, and there are 141 barracks on-site -- all usable. There are also 40 historic houses that are habitable. In addition, Tyler built around 30 houses on the lot for various productions, and they're all functional. And, we're told if the idea takes off he'd erect some pre-fab hotels.

The cast and crew can use all the facilities, including a gym, a bar and restaurants. A hospital building was built for one of the shows, and we're told Tyler believes it can become functional enough and he's thinking of bringing a doctor and nurse on board.

We're told Tyler would first reopen just with his productions -- 6 tv shows strong. Each show takes about 2 1/2 weeks to film a season, so the cast and crew would show up and stay for just shy of 3 weeks.  A few weeks later the same crew would return to shoot another season of another show, and so on. They'd also get extra pay for dealing with the circumstances.

There are still open issues. What do you do with day players and extras? What happens if there are family medical needs that require a cast or crew member to leave?

It's Gov. Brian Kemp's dream come true -- Georgians filing into business establishments all over the state ... despite scientists, and other politicians, warning it could set off a COVID-19 spike.

These photos -- from Atlanta, Savannah and other cities -- are interesting because they show the stark reality ... that social distancing is near impossible in hair and nail salons, tattoo parlors and, to a lesser extent, gyms.

Still, people starved for a fitness fix streamed into BodyPlex Fitness Adventure Friday in Grayson, GA. Folks there tell us it was hardly packed -- just under 100 people so far, when they normally have about 500 daily customers.

A staffer told TMZ, "Everybody is so excited we’re open they’ll do whatever they need to do to get their workout in. They are just happy we’re here."

That also seems to be the case at Three-13 Salon in Marietta where about 100 people came in for all sorts of beauty treatments. They checked everyone's temperature and everyone was required to wear face coverings.

That doesn't seem to be mandatory at all businesses, because customers at a barbershop were NOT wearing face masks, although the barbers did.

Remember, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told us she's opposed to the reopening of businesses -- because scientific data shows it's too soon -- and she's urging people in her city, at least, to stay home.

Escobar season has returned for 2 Chainz ... the rapper is reopening his Atlanta restaurants for sit-down service, and he says he has a plan for keeping folks safe from COVID-19.

Both of 2 Chainz's joints, Escobar Restaurant and Tapas, are serving dine-in meals starting Monday -- his business partner and co-owner, Snoop Dillard, tells TMZ -- and they're making public safety a top priority.

Escobar restaurants were strictly doing take-out orders due to coronavirus restrictions, but with Georgia's Governor paving the way for businesses to reopen -- in many cases recklessly -- 2 Chainz is getting people back to work.

We're told sales at both locations have been down 95% during the shutdown, and the restaurants were forced to furlough around 80% of its staff.

With dine-in service coming back, Snoop says they're planning to bring back 65% of restaurant staff -- 80 people -- and the hope is to have everyone back at work eventually.

As you know ... a debate is raging over Georgia's plan to reopen its economy. Governor Brian Kemp is giving the green light, but Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is urging people to be responsible and cautious and stay home.

2 Chainz's restaurants are trying to have the best of both worlds, and they think they will be able to host sit-down service safely.

We're told safety precautions at the restaurants include staff having their temperatures checked when they clock in, mandatory gloves for all employees, masks for the cooks and single-use paper menus.

Any staff member showing coronavirus symptoms will be asked to go home and quarantine for 14 days.

We're also told the restaurants are bringing back hookahs, which will be cleaned and sanitized frequently. Most folks bring their own hoses anyways.

And, on the weekends, we're told live DJs will return to both locations ... 2 Chainz and Snoop say the DJs need to make a living as well, but things aren't going into full party mode yet. They even paid a few DJs to come in and spin when it was take-out only -- just to brighten people's days.

2 Chainz and Snoop donated hundreds of meals to medical workers on the frontlines ... and we're told they're planning to give more free meals to workers at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Piedmont Atlanta Hospital.

Dana White says UFC 249 won't only be the "best card we've ever had" but also the safest -- claiming he's spending a ton of money to ensure everyone is properly screened and medically cleared.

The event is going down on May 9th At the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida ... headlined by Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje.

Top to bottom ... it's a stacked card -- with Henry Cejudo vs. Dominick Cruz and Francis Ngannou vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

But the big question ... safety.

Remember, UFC postponed the April 18th event at the request of ESPN and Disney due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but White says they're good to go this time around and he's sparing no expense on safety measures, including thorough screening for fighters and their teams.

"We're gonna have an overabundance of safety," White says.

"We're gonna spend what it costs. We have really smart people who've been working on this ... and we're gonna spend whatever it costs to make sure the fighters, their camps, the commission, the referees, our production people and everybody is safe that's gonna go to this event."

"We're going to do everything and then we're gonna go even another level above that."

Not even coronavirus could hold back Von Miller's excitement over the Denver Broncos' draft Thursday ... 'cause the NFL superstar lost his mind over the Jerry Jeudy pick despite the virus!

Check out the video ... Von -- who was diagnosed with COVID-19 last week -- didn't let his illness get in the way of a Jeudy-to-the-Broncos dance party.

Miller, wearing a mask, hoodie and glasses, jumped up and down after Roger Goodell announced the pick ... and then ran screaming his face off.

The 31-year-old eventually made it back to the TV ... where he broke out in an impromptu dance -- clearly fired up over his team adding yet another offensive weapon.

Of course, Von still ain't 100 percent in his battle with coronavirus ... he was coughing and didn't sound totally healthy.

But, it's clear he's on the mend ... and it's apparent Alabama receivers with superstar potential make for some nice medication for Miller.

Von has said since his diagnosis that he's been feeling OK ... and it seems he's going to pull through it all just fine.

Probably wouldn't hurt the recovery process if the Broncos made another good selection in Round 2 on Friday.

Don't wear an N95 mask and drive alone ... that's the message New Jersey police are sending after a driver passed out while wearing COVID-19 protection and crashed.

Here's the deal ... a Jersey motorist crashed head-on into a pole Thursday, and cops say the driver passed out behind the wheel while wearing an N95 mask after several hours on the road.

Police say the N95 mask could have caused the driver to experience "insufficient oxygen intake/excessive carbon dioxide intake," but they say they don't know the cause of the crash with 100% certainty.

While cops say Jersey residents should keep following Governor Phil Murphy's guidelines for covering faces in public, and they don't want to cause a panic or suggest the N95 mask is unsafe, police say wearing an N95 mask while driving solo is "unnecessary."

Lots of health care professionals have urged us all to reserve N95 masks for healthcare workers on the frontlines of the pandemic. There are other options for the rest of us.

The good news ... cops say the driver's injuries are non-life threatening.

President Trump has a few ideas about how to treat COVID-19 patients -- based on some promising lab findings -- but the scientists around him ain't so sure.

The Prez played amateur M.D. during Thursday's coronavirus task force briefing ... after Bill Bryan -- Science Director for Dept. Homeland Security -- revealed lab testing shows UV rays from sunlight dramatically cuts the half-life of the virus. He added that bleach and isopropyl alcohol also kill the virus either instantly or within minutes.

That set off a lightbulb for Dr. Trump. He said -- out loud, mind you -- what if we could put UV rays and bleach inside a patient's body? His suggestion was maybe that would be an easy cure.

Watch the verbal dance Bryan had to do, explaining to reporters and the President it just doesn't work that way -- at least as far as he knows. He did this while desperately trying NOT to embarrass POTUS. Ya gotta feel for him.

To be clear ... the scientists are NOT saying it's okay to gather with friends under the UV rays of the sun -- that won't stop spread of the virus.

Every good squirrel tale needs a plot twist, so Willamina -- the injured squirrel fostered by a Louisiana woman in quarantine -- is getting hers, and we're hoping it's a happy ending.

The headline here is Willamina is taking a big step toward going wild -- a step that was forced by the state after we posted a story last week about Willa and her foster mom, Emily.

Emily joined us on TMZ Live Friday with a big update ... she's handing over Willa to a licensed rehab and release facility after the state's Wildlife and Fisheries Dept. contacted her and said Willa had to go.

As we told you ... Emily took in the baby squirrel just as Louisiana's state lockdown began last month -- she was just a couple weeks old with a badly infected eye. Emily raised her, fed her and got her proper veterinary care.

Pretty heartwarming story, especially amid a global pandemic.

Problem is ... our post, and Emily's social media, got a lot of eyeballs on them, and that's when the state got involved. You can tell Emily's heartbroken she has to be separated from her furry friend -- they've really bonded over the last 6 weeks.

However, she told us it's gonna be a great move for Willamina, 'cause she's about to get hooked up with another squirrel!!!

As Emily says ... squirrels tend to thrive in pairs, and she's hoping this move puts Willa on a better path to eventually getting released into the wild.

Andy Cohen's blasting FDA guidelines that are keeping him from donating his plasma -- which could potentially aid in the battle against COVID-19 -- calling them "antiquated and discriminatory" against gay people.

The 'Watch What Happens Live' host closed his show Thursday night by explaining how he wanted to help after he recovered from coronavirus so he signed up to give plasma ... which the FDA has an urgent need for because it's rich in antibodies.

Cohen says he's ineligible as a gay man, though, due to outdated and unfair rules to prevent HIV. Andy points out even the more recently relaxed rules require gay men to abstain from sex for 3 months, regardless of their relationship status ... when there are "no such blanket restrictions" for straight people.

Simply put, Cohen believes it's ignorant to exclude members of the gay community who could help save lives and fight COVID-19 at such a critical time ... especially when all blood is easily screened for HIV, anyway.

So, he's pleading for change, saying ... "This pandemic has forced us to adapt in many ways. We’re quarantining. We’re social distancing. We’re wearing masks. Why can’t we adapt when it comes to this rule?"

As we reported ... 'GMA' anchor George Stephanopoulos recovered from the virus and plans to donate plasma, but didn't mention having any roadblocks.

Tourists won't have much to do on the Las Vegas Strip even if the Mayor gets her way ... things are not looking good this year as far as Sin City nightlife is concerned.

Here's the deal ... while Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman may want her city to open back up for business ASAP, several people connected with Vegas nightlife tell us they are not on the same page.

The clubs we're talking to are all telling us the same thing ... they're being cautious in putting plans together, pool parties are unlikely to return this summer and things aren't expected to be back to full force until 2021.

Our Vegas nightlife sources tell us ... club owners will be following the lead of Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak and not the Mayor, who doesn't even have jurisdiction over the Strip. The Governor will ultimately decide when establishments can reopen and the clubs will fall in line with the hotels.

As you know ... Mayor Goodman raised eyebrows this week by suggesting workers in her city could serve as virtual lab rats to see if shelter-in-place orders are worth it, but she would not commit to standing on the casino floor herself.

Until there is a steady downward trend in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths, our sources say things are in a holding pattern in terms of reopening Vegas, and it's all a waiting game.

One source tells us they're targeting June for the earliest date to reopen some clubs, but it will only be smaller venues with a capacity well under 1,000 people. Frankly, that sounds like a dream more than reality.

We're told the chances for late-summer pool parties are slim, and things won't be back to normal until summer 2021, even if attendance this summer is cut back significantly and other safety measures are put in place, like temperature checks and workers wearing gloves and masks.

It's not just nightlife and day parties at pools, Chippendales tells us they have no official plan to reopen the male revue and bring back live performances.

As for headliners on The Strip, don't hold your breath. Several big-time music honchos tell us they will not make any deals for their clients in the foreseeable future.

Chippendales says they are waiting on word from The Rio hotel to see what will happen moving forward, and they will follow the hotel's lead.

For now, the closest you're going to get to Vegas is online gambling and virtual lap dances.

Rapper Fred the Godson has died from coronavirus complications ... according to people very close to him.

The Bronx MC -- popular for tracks like "Toast To That" with Jadakiss and "Doves Fly" featuring Pusha T -- died a couple weeks after announcing he had contracted COVID -19.

Fred revealed his diagnosis on April 6 when he posted a photo from the hospital while wearing an oxygen mask to help him breathe. He asked his fans for prayers and support.

Days later, his wife told local media outlets that doctors were weening the rapper off his ventilator. It seemed like a good sign, but she also said he would have an uphill battle to recover and be released.

It's unclear if he was ever released from the hospital.

DJ Clark Kent remembered his friend's skills, saying ... "His wordplay was INCREDIBLE. He was easily one of the most dangerous MC’s around. Lately he was battling this horrible virus. Today he lost the fight • Rest In Power To One Of My Favorite MC’s."

The Godson, AKA Gordo, was 35.

DIY dentistry is apparently becoming a thing during coronavirus lockdown ... at least in the United Kingdom, where one man yanked his own chomper out with a pair of pliers!!!

With dentists' offices shuttered due to restrictions brought on by the novel virus, a 33-year-old father in the UK took matters into his own hands when one of his teeth got infected.

Billy Taylor says he couldn't get an emergency dental appointment, so he looked up some dental procedures on YouTube when the pain wouldn't subside. After a quick online tutorial and a couple shots of whiskey, Billy yanked out his infected tooth with pliers.

The process took an hour, but Billy finally got the tooth out of his head ... he says it was "bloody painful" and "hideous" and wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless they know what they're doing.

Dr. Heather Winther joined us Thursday on "TMZ Live" and explained why DIY dentistry is a terrible idea.

The good doc says the biggest danger is not being able to get the entire tooth pulled, which could lead to even more problems and force you into a dental chair regardless. For the record, most statewide quarantines allow for emergency dental appointments, especially when you're dealing with severe pain.

Mark Cuban is trying too put a spotlight on "the unsung heroes" of the COVID-19 pandemic -- death care workers -- who Mark says just aren't getting the attention and support they deserve.

"I just want to say thank you to the death care industry," the Dallas Mavericks owner says ... "You're not out there getting credit."

"People aren't clapping for you when you drive home but you have to do some of the hardest things that anybody has to deal with during this pandemic."

"You guys are the unsung heroes so I just wanted to say thank you, it's noticed."

You may know ... Mark is directly involved in the death care industry -- he famously bought 9% of Eterneva for $600k on "Shark Tank" back in 2019.

Eterneva says it uses cremated ashes and turns them into wearable diamonds using a high-pressure heat system.

A rep for the company tells TMZ Sports ... Eterneva has partnered with several companies in the death care industry -- including NFDA, Good Grief, Pale Hearse, the Funeral Service Foundation, and the SoGal Foundation -- to make sure funeral workers are properly equipped with N95 masks and other protective equipment.