Celebrity Health

Ex-NBA player Kermit Washington just got denied HARD -- with a judge rejecting his request for early prison release over fears he could catch the 'rona.

As we previously reported, the 68-year-old former NBA All-Star is serving 6 years in prison for running a bogus charity scheme in which he stole around $1 MILLION that was supposed to help starving and HIV positive children in Africa.

Back in April, Washington filed court docs begging the judge for an early release -- citing health concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington argued he's at a "high risk of death or serious illness from COVID-19" -- noting the "extreme rate of infection" and the number of deaths of inmates in the nationwide prison system.

But, now the court has ruled ... and it's bad news for Kermit.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ Sports, officials decided the risk of catching COVID simply isn't a good enough excuse to justify early release.

"The risk of the spread of COVID-19 alone is not enough to constitute extraordinary and compelling reasons for release."

Times are tough, and it's got hairstylists and barbers in California risking their careers to make some desperately needed cash right now ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the situation tell us ... many professionally licensed folks in the hair biz are secretly taking clients despite the state's extended stay-at-home order, which does not yet allow beauty salons to open back up.

We're told some businesses are allowing their stylists or barbers to take appointments from regular customers in the shops -- but just making it appear like the place is closed to passersby, like a speakeasy during Prohibition.

Our sources say the decision to get back to work on the DL is based on businesses and workers simply needing to support themselves and their families ... which is obviously understandable.

We're told many are in dire straits financially, and the federal government's stimulus money didn't go far enough to help -- cost of living is very high in Cali, after all.

And, though Governor Gavin Newsom has said he hopes salons will be able to reopen soon, many feel the goalpost keeps getting moved ... and they can't wait any longer.

The problem is ... the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology clearly caught wind of the illicit salons and sent an email to all licensees ... threatening to take severe disciplinary action if they're busted disobeying state orders and putting public health at risk.

In the Board's words ... "This will not be taken lightly."

Yet, our sources say stylists are willing and able to find clients who are also eager and happy to get their hair done after months of letting it go ... and risk exposure to COVID-19 for a fresh 'do.

Patrick Ewing says he has tested positive for COVID-19 ... and he's sharing his diagnosis in hopes of convincing people the "virus is serious and should not be taken lightly."

The New York Knicks legend and Georgetown University men's basketball coach announced his diagnosis Friday afternoon, and GU says he is under care and in isolation at a hospital near the school's campus in Washington D.C.

Patrick says, "I want to share that I have tested positive for COVID-19. This virus is serious and should not be taken lightly. I want to encourage everyone to stay safe and take care of yourselves and your loved ones."

The NBA Hall of Famer adds ... "I want to thank the healthcare workers and everyone on the front lines. I'll be fine and we will all get through this."

President Trump's Press Secretary said out loud today ... she senses White House correspondents don't much believe in God, for daring to ask her why the President is defying some governors who do not want churches open this weekend because of the pandemic.

Friday's White House briefing was a s*** show. Trump wants all churches open this weekend, despite the orders from some governors who want them shut because the virus is still out of control in their states.

A reporter dared to ask Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany if Trump was asking people to defy their governors. She dog-whistled for sure -- urging people to follow Trump's direction and go to church -- but would never squarely say her boss wanted people to defy the governors. Fact is, that's exactly what she's saying.

And, then it got real ... you gotta watch the video. When pressed, she mused that it was interesting these reporters wanted houses of worship locked up like a drum, suggesting they were all a bunch of heretics. At least one church-going reporter became indignant.

In case you forgot ... there was a church service not too long ago, where 2 people had the virus, and it spread to 30 people in the congregation.

BTW ... Trump is flip-flopping more than a 50-pound tuna that was just reeled in. A few weeks ago he said everything was up to the governors. Now he's saying defy the governors.

LeBron James is already back to work with his Lakers teammates ... holding small, private workouts in secure spots in L.A. ... and enforcing strict safety protocols to keep everyone safe from COVID.

Of course, the Lakers facility reopened this past Saturday ... but players aren't able to train together on the court at the same time.

The King has found a way to assemble some of his men to keep the chemistry alive ... securing a closed-off, private court to train with 1-2 teammates at a time, according to Shams Charania.

"All the safety measures have been taken," Shams says. "In these private workouts, everyone has been tested, everyone involved has practiced social distancing."

"Everyone involved has taken the necessary steps to make sure that they're following all the guidelines."

Bron's teammate, Danny Green, gave details on what it's like being at the Lakers facility on the "Load Management" podcast ... saying everyone gets swabbed before they enter the door, has phones, keys, wallets and more sanitized upon arrival ... and have to exchange their shoes with flip flops.

As for training ... teammates are put on schedules to make sure they never cross paths ... and only have an allotted amount of time to practice on the court.

The good news? California Governor Gavin Newsom says there could be pro sports back in the state as early as the first week of June.

Sounds like LeBron and Co. will be ready.

Nurse Mike Schultz is now a walking billboard for how COVID-19 can ravage your body, assuming you survive -- the formerly super fit guy is almost unrecognizable after a 6 week battle.

Mike came out the other side 50 lbs. lighter, most of that muscle, based on the side-by-side photo. The shredded dude is him a month before contracting coronavirus, compared to now after getting released from a Massachusetts hospital.

The 43-year-old nurse from San Francisco battled coronavirus-induced pneumonia which he says dropped him down to 140 pounds. Mike says he used to work out 6 to 7 days per week. He was hospitalized on March 16 ... a week after attending an event in Miami ... pre-lockdown restrictions.

Nearly 40 people from that event contracted the virus and 3 died. Within days of arriving in Boston to visit his boyfriend, Schultz's fever hit 103 and he struggled breathing. His lungs were also filling with liquid, so they raced him to the hospital.

When he finally woke up, Schultz told BuzzFeed he was so weak he couldn't hold up his cell phone and his hands were shaking when he typed.

As he starts the road to recovery, one thing's for sure ... Schultz hasn't lost his sense of humor. He said, "I’ll get back to where I was in healthier ways this time….maybe even do cardio."

It's 2021 or bust for the Tokyo Olympics ... this according to the IOC president who says they simply can't afford to push the Games any further.

"You cannot forever employ 3,000 to 5,000 people in an organising committee," Bach told BBC Sport ... "You cannot have the athletes being in uncertainty."

Of course, the Olympics were initially scheduled for 2020 -- but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Olympic Committee agreed to postpone to Summer 2021.

It's the first time in modern history the Olympics have been postponed.

But now, IOC President Thomas Bach says there's a limit to how far they can push the event ... explaining that if it's not safe to hold the Games in 2021, they're just gonna call the whole thing off.

"You cannot every year change the entire sports schedule worldwide of all the major federations. You cannot have the athletes being in uncertainty."

"You cannot have so much overlapping with a future Olympic Games, so I have some understanding for this approach by our Japanese partners."

Bach says the IOC is committed to the 2021 Games -- but he's keeping it real ... it's impossible to know for sure if the world will be ready for that kind of a gathering with the coronavirus threat still looming.

"We have to be prepared for different scenarios. There is the clear commitment to having these games in July next year."

"At the same time, looking at the scenarios this may require towards the organisation, with regard to health measures, these maybe need quarantine for the athletes, for part of the athletes, for other participants.

Oprah is looking out for folks in the cities she's called home ... giving grants to 5 areas through her $12 million COVID-19 relief fund.

O just announced a massive pledge Wednesday through her Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation, which is spreading the $12 million around underserved communities in places she's lived -- Baltimore, Chicago, Milwaukee and Nashville -- and Kosciusko, Miss., where she was born.

The beloved talk show host says wealthy people need to step up and donate, because the novel coronavirus is not going away. She says even when the virus is gone, people will still be reeling from the devastation it's causing their livelihoods, particularly folks who live paycheck to paycheck and are burning through savings amid the raging pandemic.

Oprah says she's donating to the 5 cities she once called home because it's important to look into your own backyard and your own neighborhood to see how you can help less fortunate souls.

O is giving $5 million to Live Healthy Chicago, an organization supporting seniors and other high-risk residents affected by COVID-19, after speaking with Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

Down in Nashville, where Oprah started her media career while living with her father, she's giving $2 mill to NashvilleNurtures, a collab between her alma mater Tennessee State University and Mount Zion Baptist Church. The funds will put food on the plates of 10,000 local families.

Over in Milwaukee, where Oprah lived with her mom, she's donating $100,000 to SaintA and The Nia Imani Family, Inc. to aid those in need of mental health care and housing.

Meanwhile, in Baltimore, where Oprah also built her media empire, she's giving funds to the Center For Urban Families and Living Classrooms Foundation.

And, in her birthplace, Oprah is donating another $115,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of East Mississippi.

As we reported ... Oprah announced her coronavirus relief fund in April, initially pledging $1 million to feed food-insecure Americans, and just last week she challenged 2020 graduates to find their essential service in her virtual commencement speech.

O says she challenged herself to do the same, and she's putting a lot of money where her mouth is.