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These Celebrities Caught Violating COVID-19 Guidelines

Whether it’s breaking the social distancing order or not wearing a mask, a number of public figures have been caught red-handed not following the rules to slow the spread of coronavirus.

AceShowbiz – Since coronavirus pandemic hit the United States earlier this year, many states were put on loose lockdown. With public places being closed and some being left out of work, people were not only confined at homes, but they were practically having not much to do.

It’s not an ideal situation for most people, especially those who used to have a heavy social life and do outdoor activities. While many have accepted the fact and spent their time doing more indoor activities, like recording TikTok videos, a few just would not give up their normal lifestyles, even if that meant they had to break the COVID-19 guidelines.

For public figures whose lives are constantly under the spotlight, it’s easy to spot it when they make such mistake. Like when some celebrities broke the social distancing rules, public were quick to judge them.

To learn from the wrong ones and keep in mind the importance to keep following the protocols, even though businesses have opened now, here are some of those public figures who have been caught violating the COVID-19 guidelines.

1. Floyd Mayweather

An avid partygoer, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. didn’t waste time to hit the club as soon as all states loosened COVID-19 restrictions. On May 23, the former boxing champion was spotted partying at the International Boutique Nightclub in Old Town Scottsdale with a bunch of other patrons, who didn’t wear masks and didn’t stay 6 feet apart from one another. This evoked the fury of Scottsdale mayor, Jim Lane, who called it “disturbing” and said that it showed “a real lack of common sense and civic responsibility.”

2. Hannah Brown and Tyler Cameron

Hannah Brown and Tyler Cameron just couldn’t stay away from each other. Amid their romance rumors, the Bachelor Nation couple reunited in Florida in March. While it was understandable that they wanted to quarantine together, fans were angry after the couple was also spotted partying on a boat together with friends. “When you want to be excited about Tyler and Hannah but they don’t believe in social distancing,” one fan reacted at the time. Later in April, Hannah left Florida to self-isolate in her native Alabama.

3. Tom Brady

During the coronavirus lockdown, many public places were closed to help stop the spread of the virus. That, however, didn’t stop Tom Brady from using a downtown park in Tampa, Florida to get an outdoor workout in April, breaking public health guidelines. He was caught red-handed by park staff who were patrolling, but Mayor Jane Castor said he was not cited. The city later tweeted to the former New England Patriots star, “Sorry @TomBrady! Our @tampaparksrec team can’t wait to welcome you and our entire community back with even bigger smiles — until then, stay safe and stay home as much as you can to help flatten the curve.”

4. Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion

Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion angered fans when they appeared together on his “Quarantine Radio”. The Canadian rapper broadcasted an April episode of his popular Instagram series from the “Savage” hitmaker’s house, where she tried to teach him a dance from the TikTok Out West Challenge. Viewers were quick to weigh in on the two’s hangout, with one asking why they took the unnecessary risk with the visit, “Firstly, Wtf is tory lanez doing in megan’s house??”

5. Josh Brolin

Josh Brolin broke the social distancing order as he visited his father James Brolin and stepmother Barbra Streisand during the coronavirus lockdown in California. He even took to Instagram to share a picture of their reunion, with he and his family wearing masks. That didn’t stop people from criticizing him for not following physical distancing guidelines, but he was quick to own up to his mistake. “My father lives next door to us, and we had a plan to go see them and not be near them and that plan was broken and that’s our responsibility … I think it was irresponsible,” he said in an Instagram video.

6. Ivanka Trump

One could not miss out Ivanka Trump when talking about breaking social distancing orders. Despite advising people to follow federal guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19, the daughter of President Donald Trump was caught traveling with her family to New Jersey from Washington during the Easter weekend. The White House defended her travel though, stating, “Her travel was no different than had she been traveling to/from work and the location was less populated than the surrounding area near her home in D.C.”

7. Kylie Jenner

Kylie Jenner had been self-isolating at home during the coronavirus lockdown until she stepped out to visit BFF Stassie Karanikolaou in April. The 22-year-old reality TV star went makeup free and opted to dress for comfort in a tie-dye sweatsuit, without wearing a mask. The cosmetic mogul apparently went out for some fresh air and a snack run, as she was seen leaving her friend’s place with a water bottle and a bag of chips. Despite the public appearance, a source assured to PEOPLE that all the Kardashian family members are taking social distancing seriously, saying, “Everyone is still staying at home.”

8. Andie MacDowell

Another celebrity who tried to make use of a closed public place for her own benefit, Andie MacDowell was caught sneaking out of the Audubon Center in Debs, Los Angeles with her daughters, Rainey and Margaret Qualley, in April. They went as far as crawling out from under a large, iron gate at the closed park, apparently having gone on a hike wile walking their dog. But since no one encountered the “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and her family when they were out, Audubon Center director Marcos Trinidad said, “we will not penalize them.” Andie appeared to deny the sighting, writing on her Instagram Stories, “Both my girls are in Montana. They are not in LA.” When her denial wasn’t enough and people continued criticizing her, she eventually deleted her Twitter account.

9. Candace Owens

Candace Owens didn’t not only defy the coronavirus guidelines, but she was also complaining about them. The conservative political activist was approached by a police officer for not wearing a mask while inside a grocery store despite Whole Foods’ regulations. Instead of apologizing for it, she took to Twitter to rant about the police encounter. “We come to this @WholeFoods EVERY DAY. Apparently beginning yesterday, it is now illegal to come in without a mask,” she tweeted at the time, prompting criticism from fellow users who blasted her for feigning ignorance about the pandemic.

10. Lori Harvey

Lori Harvey usually pleased her fans whenever she updates her social media account, but not when her friend Taina Williams shared photos from their Cinco de Mayo bash. The stepdaughter of Steve Harvey threw the pool party at her Hollywood Hills mansion, which was also attended by two other friends, Asia Carter and Amaya Colon, on May 7. The 23-year-old social media personality quickly came under fire for seemingly ignoring social distancing order, with one asking “No social distance?” Another remarked, “This don’t look like quarantining.”

11. 2 Chainz

Much like Floyd Mayweather, 2 Chainz wanted things to go back to normal once the states loosened the COVID-19 restrictions. He and his business partner re-opened their Escobar Restaurant & Tapas for dining in, but that didn’t go well when one of the restaurants in Atlanta, Georgia was packed with customers partying for Memorial Day. Georgia State Police officers noticed patrons ignored all social distancing rules when they stopped by, prompting it to be closed down for “violating executive orders regarding protocol issued due to COVID-19.”

12. Donald Trump

Like daughter, like father. Ivanka Trump wasn’t the only of the White House family who broke the federal guidelines in slowing the spread of coronavirus. Even Donald Trump, who should be the face of the country as a president, didn’t set an example to Americans as he refused to wear a mask when he appeared in public. It wasn’t a one-time incident, as he was seen violating the rule when visiting the Honeywell plant in Arizona and later during a tour of a Ford plant in Michigan. In his defense, he said that he wore it backstage, but wouldn’t wear it in front of cameras. “I didn’t want to give the press the pleasure of seeing it,” he insisted.

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The Mental Health of Nurses Is Crucial amid the Coronavirus Pandemic

Since the coronavirus outbreak, and with some stay-at-home orders still in effect, the masses have adopted a certain ritualistic activity—one that is based on togetherness and reverence. Every day at 7PM, Americans open their doors or windows, and start to whistle, bang pots, blow horns, and applaud. The hour marks the time when frontline workers at hospitals change shifts, and the rousing cheers are intended to show support for those who are putting themselves at risk to help others.

Indeed, the efforts of doctors, nurses, and hospital staff deserve all this adulation, and more. They are the ones treating patients and caring for them daily. Nurses, in particular, are even more emotionally invested, often being the nurturers and the sole presence who’s constant in a patient’s stay. A lot rides on their shoulders, and that takes its toll as much mentality as it does physically. Further, the environment certainly doesn’t help matters.

“The air quality in hospitals, the lighting quality in hospitals, the long hours—all triggers for stress,” says Sarah, a former nurse at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. “And these are the people that we hope would take care of us.”

The mental health support that they will need is huge.

Factor in the coronavirus, the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the restrictions on visitors, and the situation becomes even more taxing. “I just thought of soldiers going to war,” Sarah adds. “What do we do with them after? The mental health support that they will need is huge.”

Beth, the associate chief nurse at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, is well aware of the distress that the global pandemic has had psychologically on the staff at her facility—the fear of not only contracting the disease, but more so passing it along to others. “We have so many folks living with someone at home that are immunocompromised,” she says. “We have people that are a little frightened and worried about infecting themselves because of their children and families at home. But we had no one say that they won’t do this. It’s unbelievable the way they have sacrificed their time and their own health.”

Heroes, to be sure, don’t always wear capes, and they are only human. They need assistance to get through what is unquestionably a trying time. For this, many hospitals have taken measures to give nurses the resources they need, one of which is sourcing programs like Urban Zen Integrative Therapy (UZIT), an initiative founded by designer Donna Karan and famed yoga instructors Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Yee in 2009.

“It was during my husband Stephan’s battle with lung cancer at Sloan Kettering over 15 years ago that I made a promise to him that I would take care of the nurses. We witnessed firsthand how hard the nurses worked around the clock on the front lines every day caring for patients. I will never forget his last wish: ‘Donna, whatever you do, take care of the nurses,’” Karan says.

She kept her promise. For more than a decade, UZIT has been instituted at health care facilities across the nation, including Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, providing holistic tools to help workers cope in grueling and emotionally draining environments.

“What we really do is try to get people back to the present moment,” explains Rodney. “On the front line of COVID, what you’re really dealing with is exhaustion. And you’re also dealing with sadness and a lot of grief. So we’re really meeting people at those two points. The way you get out of grief is to get to the present moment. It could be as simple as putting your back to the wall and really feeling the wall support you. Keeping your eyes steady on a point of gaze. Possibly even humming. There are also all kinds of poses we can put people in that help the body out of exhaustion.”

“We use many different modalities such as essential oils, Reiki, and train staff in contemplative care,” adds Colleen.

Both Beth and Sarah have seen firsthand the healing capabilities of UZIT. They have more than 20 years’ experience as nurses and are fully aware of the daily pressures that come with the profession. As Beth points out, to get through the long, arduous shifts, especially amid a pandemic, front liners need to have the basic necessities. “We looked at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs,” she says. “The first one is food, shelter, and safety. So we are feeding people free of charge. We have an incredibly generous community who are donating all kinds of restaurant meals. I know that is happening across the country.”

To be sure, many local restaurants and organizations have been providing an ample amount of food carts and equipment to health care workers. But what of mental nourishment? For Beth, the nurses on her staff have benefited greatly from the aid that programs like UZIT offer. She stresses the importance of its psychological properties—something that is even more vital for those living and working in coastal cities, where the coronavirus rates are staggering.

“We really had not had the spike in patients like other places,” she says. “However, the ICUs are full and we did have to expand the units, but not nearly to the extent that they have in New York City. Like everyone else in the country, we’ve restricted our visitors to our patients. And oftentimes, the nurses are the only ones with patients as they die. It’s the nurse standing there with the patient, holding their hand as they pass. It’s tough. Some of the deaths are not easy, and the work is incredibly hard physically, as well as being emotionally difficult.”

We don’t know the toll it is taking as far as PTSD.

Even if nurses working at hospitals with COVID-19 are coping with the circumstances, the lasting impacts are yet to be determined. Like Sarah, Colleen equates the situation to soldiers coming back from war. They are tired, beleaguered, and perhaps unaware of the long-term psychological consequences of working at a time when stakes are high.

“We’re not really going to know the effects until several years down the road,” she says. “We don’t know the toll it is taking as far as PTSD. I’m constantly asked to write about the silver lining, and I have a really hard time with that. I live in New York City, and I see so much suffering. A lot of people that don’t live in an urban environment get to see it.”

Perceptive to this struggle is Urban Zen. According to the company’s CEO, Helen Aboah, reports of the fear and anxiety that nurses are experiencing fall before the organization daily. So with its core mission to “take care of the nurses,” it is providing all the help it can.

“In addition to physical and emotional exhaustion from their shifts, many are separated from their families to minimize the risk of exposing them to the virus without knowing when they will be able to return home. Throughout this crisis, our question has been, who is treating the caregivers? This is where UZIT comes in,” Aboah says.

Normally, UZIT is a paid program that offers in-person instruction by professionals, training members of the staff to be integrated therapists at a facility, along with oils that emit scents that help with mental stability. But seeing how social distancing is a requirement and finances are unsteady, the company will be providing access to free digital content and distributing products donated by Young Living Essential Oils. All hospitals or frontline workers have to do is email [email protected] or direct message Urban Zen’s Instagram account.

Members of the company freely admit that UZIT is not the end-all, be-all for getting nurses through the pandemic. “Sometimes really good psychotherapy is needed,” Colleen says. “We’re not saying that we’re going to replace therapists at all, but we think we have something that is very effective to offer.”

In this moment of uncertainty, when the world seems dark, there are glimmers of light that are peering through—one of them being the support and admiration given to health care workers. They can come in the form of large acts of kindness and generosity that organizations like Urban Zen can provide, or they can be just as simple as opening a window and cheering at a given time.

“There are a lot of beautiful things happening,” Rodney says. “For instance, at seven o’clock, when the whole city is in an uproar of thanks for frontline workers, it’s just tingling to feel that kind of camaraderie and gratitude.”

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Man who nearly died from Covid-19 could become antibody 'super donor'

Great Ormond Street paediatrician who nearly died from coronavirus is found to have antibody levels FORTY times higher than normal amid hopes his blood could help others recover as well

Alessandro Giardini, 46, spent seven days on a ventilator after catching Covid-19
Doctors discover his antibody level is around 40 times that of the typical donor
They hope his blood can be used to save others who are battling coronavirus
Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

An NHS paediatrician who nearly died from coronavirus has been found to have antibody levels forty times that of a normal plasma donor – and doctors hope his blood could now help save the lives of others

Alessandro Giardini, 46, a consultant at Great Ormond Street Hospital, spent seven days on a ventilator after contracting the deadly virus.

But the father-of-two, who has since recovered from the virus, is set to turn from patient to ‘super donor’ after doctors discovered his antibody level is around 40 times that of the typical plasma donation made to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) so far.

He said: ‘It was a very hard experience, not knowing if you will see your family again – I have two young children.

Alessandro Giardini, 46, a consultant at Great Ormond Street Hospital, spent seven days on a ventilator after contracting the deadly virus

‘I was aware of the convalescent plasma donation programme so I was expecting the call to come in and donate. I felt I had to give back.

‘Even though it was scary to go back into a medical environment and have a needle again, I really felt that if there was any chance I could help someone else who was still ill with COVID-19, that I needed to do it.’

It comes as doctors look to explore a pattern that men over 35 who have been hospitalised with coronavirus appear to make high levels of antibodies which could potentially fight the contagion.

They could play a major part in providing transfusions of blood plasma which may save lives.

NHS Blood and Transplant is now trying to recruit people over 35, men, and those ill enough to have needed hospital treatment – urging those who fall into one or more of the groups, and live near one of 23 donation centres, to donate their plasma.

A trial is ongoing looking into whether plasma – the liquid part of blood – can help people recover faster.

Experts believe antibodies made by people who have recovered can be transferred to others to fight coronavirus in the period before they are able to develop their own immune response.

The father-of-two, who works at Great Ormond Street Hospital (pictured) in London, is set to turn from patient to ‘super donor’ after doctors discovered his antibody level is around 40 times that of the typical plasma donation made to NHSBT so far

Professor David Roberts, NHS Blood and Transplant’s associate medical director for blood donation, said: ‘These initial results are in line with past findings.

‘People who are more seriously ill produce more antibodies, which can be transfused to potentially help others.

‘The evidence so far is that men and older people are more seriously affected by coronavirus.’

So far men have been twice as likely as women to have high enough antibody levels in their plasma, with only 10 per cent of people aged under 35 having high enough levels.

Nearly a third of people who tested positive for the virus but were not hospitalised had high enough antibody levels, compared to 70 per cent of those who needed hospital treatment.

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Covid 'injures' the placenta and cuts off blood to unborn babies

Coronavirus threat to unborn babies: Infection ‘injures’ the placenta, cuts off blood to unborn babies and can lead to low birth weight, organ damage or even foetal death

Lesions and blood clots were discovered in the vital organs in 15 women
Issues with blood flow can lead to low birth weight and even foetal death
But the 15 babies were delivered on due date and were a healthy weight
16th woman miscarried, but researchers unsure if it was caused by virus
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

The coronavirus currently sweeping the world may injure the placentas of pregnant women and cut off blood supply to their unborn babies, a small study has found.

Scientists found visible damage to the placentas of all 15 mothers who were involved in the research.

Lesions and blood clots were discovered in the vital organ, responsible for providing oxygen and nutrients to the foetus.

Issues with placental blood flow can lead to low birth weight, organ damage in the baby or even foetal death.

Although none of the children in the study had any health troubles, the researchers who conducted the study said the findings ‘worried them’.

The results highlight the need to monitor expectant mothers infected with COVID-19 ‘right now’, they added.

The coronavirus currently sweeping the world may injure the placentas of pregnant women and cut off blood supply to their unborn babies, a small study has found

The foetal side of a damaged placenta in one of the studied women has prominent blood vessels and lesions

The mother’s side: The placentas were said to have dangerous blood clots which cut off the baby’s supply of oxygen and nutrients

Sixteen women in total were involved in the study by Northwestern University, in Illinois.

Fifteen of them delivered healthy babies, while one miscarried in the second trimester.

The risk of miscarriage was therefore 6 per cent. This is slightly higher than the 1 per cent of miscarriages that occur in the second trimester of an average pregnancy.

Women are being urged not to have IVF amid the coronavirus outbreak over fears the virus negatively affects pregnancy.

A statement issued by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology says all couples considering fertility treatment ‘should avoid becoming pregnant at this time’.

It advised those who are already having IVF to consider freezing their eggs or the embryos they have created for a pregnancy until the pandemic is halted.

ESHRE says all those considering or planning treatment to have a baby should put it on hold as a ‘precautionary measure’.

But many of the 68,000 women who choose to have IVF every year in the UK are in their late thirties and have little time to delay.

It comes following reports of women infected with coronavirus giving birth to premature babies in China.

However ESHRE – which provides guidance for fertility clinics across Europe and in the UK – notes the reports are based on limited data with ‘no strong evidence’.

But the woman was asymptomatic and the researchers are unsure whether the virus caused the miscarriage or if it was unrelated.

They say their study is too small to draw broad conclusions about coronavirus’ link to miscarriages.

In the successful births, all 15 of the children tested negative for the virus and were considered ‘healthy’.

So it came as a surprise that every mother suffered visible damage to their placentas, according to lead author Dr Jeffrey Goldstein.

Dr Goldstein, assistant professor of pathology at Northwestern University, said: ‘Most of these babies were delivered full-term after otherwise normal pregnancies, so you wouldn’t expect to find anything wrong with the placentas, but this virus appears to be inducing some injury in the placenta.

‘It doesn’t appear to be inducing negative outcomes in live-born infants, based on our limited data, but it does validate the idea that women with COVID should be monitored more closely.

‘These findings support that there might be something clot-forming about coronavirus, and it’s happening in the placenta.’

Dr Goldstein said it makes sense to continue to follow babies born to coronavirus-infected mothers to see if they face any difficulties in later life.

Previous research has found that children who were in born during the 1918-19 flu pandemic have higher rates of heart disease.

On the miscarriage, Dr Goldstein added: ‘That patient was asymptomatic, so we don’t know whether the virus caused the miscarriage or it was unrelated.

Women are being urged not to have IVF amid the coronavirus outbreak over fears the virus negatively affects pregnancy (file)

What pregnant women need to know about coronavirus: Experts say there is no evidence an unborn baby can be infected during pregnancy

Pregnant women do not appear to be more susceptible to coronavirus than others and mothers are being advised to carry on breastfeeding, according to a new report.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have released new guidelines for pregnant women in relation to the coronavirus and have confirmed that there is no evidence the virus can be passed to an unborn baby.

As a precautionary approach, pregnant women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus when they go into labour are being advised to attend an obstetric unit – which has more doctors than a normal midwifery unit – for birth.

The world’s youngest coronavirus victim is a newborn baby in London, whose mother also tested positive for the disease after giving birth.

The mother was rushed to hospital days ago with suspected pneumonia but her positive result was only known after the birth.

They were treated at separate hospitals – the baby at North Middlesex and the mother at a specialist infections hospital.

According to The Sun, the baby is now ‘out of danger’ and recovering well.

It is believed the baby was infected after the birth from coughs or sneezes and it was tested within minutes of its arrival.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has also advised that healthy babies should not be separated from infected mothers and can be breastfed.

Dr Edward Morris, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said:

‘As this is a very new virus we are just beginning to learn about it, so the guidance will be kept under regular review as new evidence emerges.

‘Over the coming weeks and months it is likely pregnant women in the UK will test positive for coronavirus. While the data is currently limited it is reassuring that there is no evidence that the virus can pass to a baby during pregnancy.’

‘We are aware of four other cases of miscarriage with COVID. The other reported patients had symptoms and three of four had severe inflammation in the placenta. I’d like to see more before drawing any conclusions.’

Twelve of the women (80 per cent) had a type of injury to their placenta that impairs blood flow from the mother to the baby called vascular malperfusion.

Six out of the 16 women, or 40 per cent, had blood clots in the placenta, called intervillous thrombi.

Severe inflammation – an overreaction by the immune system to COVID-19 infection – is thought to be the cause of the blood clots.

It is one of the reasons so many virus patients are suffering strokes and heart attacks, experts say.

Co-author Dr Emily Miller, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the university, said: ‘Not to paint a scary picture, but these findings worry me.

‘I don’t want to draw sweeping conclusions from a small study, but this preliminary glimpse into how COVID-19 might cause changes in the placenta carries some pretty significant implications for the health of a pregnancy.

‘We must discuss whether we should change how we monitor pregnant women right now.

They were healthy, full-term, beautifully normal babies, but our findings indicate a lot of the blood flow was blocked off and many of the placentas were smaller than they should have been.

‘Placentas get built with an enormous amount of redundancy. Even with only half of it working, babies are often completely fine.

‘Still, while most babies will be fine, there’s a risk that some pregnancies could be compromised.’

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology, looked at women who gave birth at Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women’s Hospital between March 18 and May 5.

Four patients came down with flu-like symptoms three to five weeks before giving birth and tested positive for coronavirus.

The remaining patients were asymptomatic and only tested positive when they arrived at hospital to have their baby.

The placenta is the first organ to form in fetal development. It acts as the fetus’ lungs, gut, kidneys and liver, taking oxygen and nutrients from the mother’s blood stream and exchanging waste.

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Hunt for the Camberwell Covid thug who SPAT at bus driver

Hunt for the Camberwell Covid thug who SPAT at bus driver through holes in screen after row over dodging fare

Police are hunting a thug who spat at a bus driver during a row over fare
Three men and a woman boarded a 68 bus travelling towards Camberwell
After arguing with the driver, one of the group spat through the divider
Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

Police are hunting a thug who spat at a bus driver through holes in the screen in a row over fare-dodging.

The incident took place at around 12.30am on March 21 – just two days before the country had to lock down to halt the spread of coronavirus.

Three men and a woman had boarded a 68 London bus travelling towards Camberwell on Walworth Road.

The incident took place at around 12.30am on March 21 – just two days before the country had to lock down to halt the spread of coronavirus

When the driver asked them to pay, they refused and started arguing with the driver, police said.

During the argument, one of the men approached the driver at spat at him through the holes in the divide.

The group then left the bus.

Officers from the Met Police’s Roads and Transport Command released the image of a man they want to speak to.

A Met Police spokesman said: ‘Officers are asking that anyone who recognises the suspect to call 101 or tweet @MetCC and quoting CRIS 3009008/20.

‘Alternatively, call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.’

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#Stayhome guide for Tuesday: Sing Disney songs with major pop stars, order springy handmade fishballs and more

1. SING: DISNEY SONGS WITH MAJOR POP STARS

The Disney Family Singalong special will premiere on Disney Channel (StarHub TV Channel 312, Singtel TV Channel 234) tonight at 7pm.

The star-studded special, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, averaged 12.2 million viewers during its debut broadcast in the United States last month as stars perform their favourite Disney hits from home.

Look forward to seeing singers such as Christina Aguilera, Michael Buble, musical theatre veteran Kristin Chenoweth, Moana’s (2016) Auli’i Cravalho, Darren Criss, Luke Evans, Elle Fanning, Ariana Grande and Josh Groban.

For the epic finale, the High School Musical trilogy (2006, 2007, 2008) director Kenny Ortega leads stars of the musical film series in a rendition of the classic High School Musical song We’re All In This Together.

2. PLAY: JIGSAW PUZZLES OF BEAUTIFUL NEW SOUTH WALES SIGHTS IN AUSTRALIA

The official tourism site for Australia’s New South Wales is offering a fun and virtual way for people to connect with the state’s scenic sights, such as the Sydney skyline and Montague Island.

You can try out online jigsaw puzzles of these sights. The jigsaws, which are set at 32 pieces online, can be adjusted to become six pieces for those who want something easy and up to 888 pieces for those who want a more intense challenge.

Go to: Online jigsaw puzzles

3. CHECK OUT: THE NATIONAL GALLERY’S ACTIVITIES IN THE ARTS FOR CHILDREN

The National Gallery now has a dedicated site Gallery Kids! to help parents who are looking for interesting activities to occupy their children during the school holidays.

Activities including interactive games, art-inspired storytelling video sessions, artist masterclasses and art tutorials will be introduced weekly on the site. Templates for colouring and drawing will also be available for parents to download and print out.

Go to: Gallery Kids!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE THINGS TO DO

4. Covid-19 stay-home guide: Handmade fishballs so springy

(Clockwise from left) Fishball Story’s Deep-fried Fish Cake Sticks, Mix Soup and Signature Fish Ball Noodle with mee kia. ST PHOTO: WONG AH YOKE

The difference between a good handmade fishball and one that comes off an assembly line is obvious when you bite into it.

It is more springy than bouncy, but more importantly, you taste fish and not flavouring.

For what I mean, check out Fishball Story. Owner Douglas Ng makes the fishballs and fishcakes himself for the noodle stall.

5. Covid-19 stay-home recipe: Easy lamb chops

Public holidays and special occasions may be lacking a festive feel during this circuit breaker period, but one way of jazzing up any regular day is with a memorable home-cooked meal.

Spicy lamb cutlets are a breeze to cook and lend a touch of sophistication to your dinner table.

If you are one of those who avoid cooking lamb because you think it is too complicated, lamb cutlets may change your mind.

Police COVID Sting Nets 30 Pedophiles Attempting to Meet Up With Children For Sex

The men, ranging in age from 20 to 74, were all arrested in a single county.

Police in Virginia say they have netted 30 pedophiles attempting to meet up with children for sex.

"Operation COVID Crackdown" was devised to catch predators preying on youngsters who are forced to conduct schoolwork on the internet and spend more time online amid the coronavirus outbreak.

In the sting, police claim each offender used online platforms to initiate explicit conversations in an attempt to solicit sex from a child, not realizing it was actually a police officer posing as one.

They arranged to meet the victim at an agreed location; when each one arrived they found a team of detectives waiting for them instead, and were taken into custody.

The operation was targeted at a single county of Virginia — Fairfax — which has a mere population of 22,000.

The men arrested ranged in age from 20 to 74; they were collectively charged with 68 felonies.

According to police, school closures and the implementation of distance learning have increased many children’s online presence and inadvertently placed them at higher risk of exploitation.

"Our detectives have remained vigilant and they recognized the increased threat posed by online predators in recent weeks," said Major Ed O’Carroll, Bureau Commander with Major Crimes.

"I commend their ability to adapt during this unprecedented public health pandemic and to do so in the interest of protecting our children and bringing justice to those who commit these repugnant crimes."

He advised parents to closely monitor their children’s online activities and use available security settings to prevent the use of age-inappropriate sites or platforms.

They should also encourage children to report any person engaging in inappropriate conversations or trying to coerce them into providing sexually explicit images of themselves.

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