::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

Press Secretary Jen Psaki has tested positive for the Coronavirus again.  Today, in preparation for travel to Europe, I took a PCR test this morning. That test came back positive, which means I will be adhering to CDC guidance and no longer be traveling on the President’s trip to Europe. I had two socially-distanced meetings with the President yesterday, and the President is not considered a close contact as defined by CDC guidance. I am sharing the news of my positive test today out of an abundance of transparency. The President tested negative today via PCR test. Thanks to the vaccine, I have only experienced mild symptoms. In alignment with White House COVID-19 protocols, I will work from home and plan to return to work in person at the conclusion of a five-day isolation period and a negative test.

A special Coronavirus update for expectant moms. . . The CDC is once again reminding pregnant women to get vaccinated as hospitalizations go up and tents are being used for patient overflow. With the spread of COVID-19 anew, there have been calls from the medical community to prioritize vaccinations expectant mothers. Guidance is also being updated since they did not find a significanct increase in miscarraiges, the Washington Post reports. Three months ago CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said vaccines for pregnat women are safe. Pregnant women are not more susceptible to COVID-19 infection, yet there is evidence suggesting that pregnant women with COVID-19 are at higher risk of developing severe disease compared to other women of reproductive age. The update arrives after more than 20 health organizations urged vaccinations for pregnant women, those who have recently been pregnant and those who plan to become pregnant. READ MORE at teh Washington Post .

(The Slice): Singer Kelly Price is the latest celebrity to tackle the Coronavirus head on . She has broken her silence about her personal fight against COVID-19 since the missing person report came out last week. She cleared up speculation about her status and whereabouts in an interveiw with TMZ on Monday. “I was never missing. I was in my home. I was being seen by doctors,” she explained. The well-known R&B and gospel singer cried as she reflected on her struggles and reavealed, "I died." Fortunately, Price was revived when hopspitalized with the deadly virus but says she required aftercare when discharged. It is not known whether she had been vaccinated and her attorney would not confirm her vaccination status when asked by Atlanta's WSB News. As far as the missing person report that was filed with Dekalb County is concerned, Price said she was isolated under doctor's care and did not engage with relatives to protect them. Price's sister has co...

  (The Slice): During the pandemic, pregnant women not only have to worry about protecting their health, but also their unborn child. Will getting a shot potentially harm the baby? Fortunately, the shot can benefit the unborn according to Dr. Anthony Fauci. Dr. Fauci said in a Coronavirus briefing Wednesday morning that the antibodies in the Coronavirus vaccine, like many others, can be transferred to the fetus in a pregnant woman and last months after birth. The infectious disease expert explained, ". . .when you vaccinate a mother during pregnancy, that there's transplacental transfer of antibody IgG from the mother to the baby." Newborns have been known to contract Coronavirus but is it not clear how it is transmitted. The antibodies are "also in breast milk if a mother decides that she wants to breastfeed," said Fauci. Fauci further explained that the dual impact in shielding both the mother and unborn child: "That is a very good way where you can...

(The Slice): The White House will undergo a special deep cleaning before the incoming Biden Administration moves in. The GSA is paying contractors to sanitize the building from top-to-bottom. As the site of numerous COVID-19 cases, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. will be thoroughly disinfected to remove potential viral droplets after the Trump Administration ignored social distance guidelines in its daily operations and at several large "super spreader" events. Outgoing Pres. Donald Trump announced in October that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19. The spread didn't stop with the First Family, continuing to infect a group of staffers that had been in and out of the building on the campaign trail and their co-workers. Many people deemed Trump's leadership on managing the spread of the disease as highly irresponsible since he reluctantly wore a mask after contracting the disease publicly, but did not wear masks internally or require his staff t...

(The Slice): Did you know 40% of people with Coronavirus are asymptomatic? This is the case according to Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institute of Health and it is one important reason scientists must continue to strive to develop theurapeutics and find an effective vaccine. Dr. Collins shared the latest developments stated in an appearance with the National Press Club on C-SPAN on October 23 that the Moderna trial has 30,000 paticipants, 37% of whom are people of color. He expressed optimism that a vaccine will be avilable in the coming year, if not be the year's end. It has taken some effort from the African American Medical community to build trust around participating in trials. Blacks, Hispanics and othrs are skeptical about using a vaccine one it is discovered based on the lack of transparency on the spread of the diseaese and uncertainties about the proper mitigation. The FDA does not approve a vaccine that has less than 50% effectiveness. By the ...

  (The Slice): How is the POTUS doing? Officials close to Pres. Donald Tump are being accused of downplaying his health status just as he downplayed the deadly Coronavirus disease. Three days afte being diagnosed with Coronavirus on Friday, we do not know his health status based on contradictions from doctors, the White House's Mark Meadow and the missing time line on when he contracted the illness. While we were being told he was in good spirits on the same day of the announcement, the POTUS's oxygen dropped below 94% saturation and he got supplemental oxygen for about an hour at the White House., before being air-lifted by Marine II to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany initally stated he was being taken to the hospital out of an "abundance of caution." There were two press conferences over this weekend to answer the call for transparency from the media, but each time the mixed messages were amplified...

(The Slice): Pres. Donald Trump and First Lady Melania are facing the same decision other American parents are facing about sending their child to school during an unstable health pandemic. They would like to send Barron Trump, the youngest o the presidne't 5 children back to the classroom. Despite their views, their school-aged son will not be returning to a campus for now. Barron , 14 attends a prestigious private Episcopal school in Maryland that will not be re-opening fulltime this fall regardless of the president encouraging schools around the nation to re-open. Administrators wrote to parents last week that due to the Coronavirus St. Andrews of Potomac, MD will not immediately open per usual this September as they are looking to implement a hybrid model. The plan would entail partial online learning and partial in-person learning with "proper social distancing" on a rotated schedule. The school started virtual learning in the Spring. ...

As July 4th weekend kicks off the number of U.S. confirmed Coronavirus cases has risen to a record high. Americans eager to enjoy the weather and get social have been getting inconsistent advice on how to gather safely from US officials — starting at the top. More than 52,000 cases were reported on Thursday, according to an online tracker published by Johns Hopkins University. This was the status of the nation as U.S. Pres. Donald a Trump participated in two crowd intensive events . On Friday he spoke to approximately 7500 at Mt. Rushmore. By Saturday on the datE of America’s birth he will address thousands more at the Salut to America — each gathering mask optional. Surgeon Gen.Jerome Adams walked back his earlier recommendation that masks were unnecessary saying health experts now recognize the virus is asymptomatic and people should wear a mask to lessen the spread. If the sun is shining, grills are going to be ablaze around the country, but given the current s...

By Mona Austin REPORTS: Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been released from a federal prison in Louisiana. According to a Friday news release from the Ebony Foundation, Kilpatrick has been granted early release after serving only seven years of his 28- year sentence. In 2013 he was convicted on 24 felony counts of public corruption involving extortion, bribery, conspiracy and fraud. Although activists have advocated for his release for several years Kilpatrick is likely being released early due to COVID- 19. An inmate in the facility where he was jailed passed away from the disease earlier this year. FOX 2 DETROIT REPORT ON KILPATRICK RELEASE https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/former-detroit-mayor-kwame-kilpatrick-granted-early-release-from-prison-report-says According to the Associated Press, "t he U.S. Bureau of Prisons declined to comment about Kilpatrick, saying only that he remains in custody at the prison in Oakdale, Louisiana. U.S. Attorney Matth...

Syndicated Gospel Personalities, Pastors and Community Leaders  Will Unite in a Day of Prayer Amid the Global COVID-19 Pandemic (SILVER SPRING, MD) – April 9, 2020  –  RADIO ONE  today announced a national day of prayer campaign to be held on  Good Friday, April 10, 2020 .  The  Radio One COVID-19 National Day of Prayer ,  #OneinPrayer , will feature syndicated radio personalities,  Erica Campbell, host of Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell , Willie Moore, Jr. of the  Willie Moore, Jr. Show  and  Darlene McCoy , host of the  Nightly Spirit with Darlene McCoy , joined by gospel music artists, pastors and special guests to pray for the country and world as it confronts the effects of the global pandemic. Among the participants in the prayer campaign are: Grammy Award winning hip hop artist  Lecrae ; civil rights leader and president of the National Action Ne...

THIS FOUR-PART CONVERSATION WILL BE A RESOURCE TO EMPOWER BLACK PEOPLE TO BUILD AN EFFECTIVE ACTION PLAN DURING THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES #COVIDUnmasked New York, NY -- BET announced a partnership with civil rights organization and stewards of human rights, the NAACP, on a four-part tele-town hall series “ Unmasked: A COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall Series Powered by NAACP & BET ” focused on how the pandemic is affecting African Americans and what steps the community can take to build an action plan for positive change. The first town hall kicks off on   Wednesday, April 8, at 8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT , and will focus on the health, emotional, economic toll, congressional response and how activists can apply pressure to ensure legislation is equitable. Viewers can participate LIVE via an interactive toll-free conference call that will also be streamed at https://naacp.org/call-to-action-program/. To participate via phone dial 866-757-0756 and to join the conversation on social media by...

Hormel Foods, a global branded food company (NYSE:  HRL ), has taken a leadership role in helping with hunger relief and food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The company has announced a pledge of  $1 million  in cash and product donations to assist nonprofits with their efforts in addition to its regular, ongoing hunger-relief efforts. "First and foremost, I want to recognize our incredible team of production professionals who have risen to the challenge. With a sense of responsibility and pride, they continue to produce food for millions of people who are in the midst of this crisis," said  Jim Snee , chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Hormel Foods.  "We understand the critical role we play in providing safe and high-quality food for people around the world. We have a responsibility to ensure our products are available when needed, and we are working closely with our retail and foodservice customers to provide ...

The U.S. State Department has issued its highest travel advisory banning travel to China in light of the person-to-person spread of the Coronavirus. The new case of the spread in the U.S. being directly spread to another person caused a higher level of concern. The World Health Organization has declared China is under a global health emergency. The death toll form the outbreak is 213 and more than 9,709 cases are confirmed worldwide. Flights have been stopped both to and from mainland China. TRAVEL ADVISORY "Do not travel to China due to novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China. On January 30, the World Health Organization has determined the rapidly spreading outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice.  Commercial carriers have reduced or suspended routes to and from China. Those currently in China should consider depart...