This is the first of a new pop-up podcast series dropping in the San Diego News Matters feed on Sundays. We're calling it "The Pandemic Pivot," and it's about people who are doing creative and innovative things to keep the community connected through COVID-19 isolation. Our goal is to make you, me and everyone who listens feel just a little less alone, or at least alone together. We want this podcast series to be some of the virtual glue that’s currently keeping our community connected. The plan is to drop new episodes on Sundays. The first episode features food critic Troy Johnson Because when restaurants across the city started closing down, Troy’s inbox started filling up. Over the years, he’s amassed a decent following of foodies. So, he was someone a lot of local restaurant folks thought of when the coronavirus pandemic hit. They saw Troy as a human life raft of sorts. A way to help them reach customers who might be able to keep their businesses afloat through the pandemic. So, they shot Troy email after email, text after text, begging for help. And so, after binging "Tiger King" just like you, me and millions others did as we adjusted to our new lives in isolation, Troy decided to do something to help. Follow Troy here: https://www.instagram.com/heytroyjohnson/

San Diego News Matters is KPBS’ daily podcast bringing you the local news you need.

On Thursday, more than 50 Asian Pacific Islander organizations in San Diego County released a joint statement denouncing xenophobia, racism and acts of violence toward their communities amid the pandemic. Also in the San Diego News Matter’s podcast: More essential workers in San Diego County are now required to wear cloth face coverings, testing a possible coronavirus vaccine and more local news you need.

Saying, "We need to go boldly. We need to not play small ball,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday he will be asking state legislators to spend up to $1.4 billion to secure a monthly supply of personal protective equipment to protect California healthcare workers and other essential personnel on the COVID-19 frontlines. Also in today’s San Diego News Mattes podcast: Easter virtual-style, a call for plasma from those who've recovered from COVID-19, a Chula Vista Councilmember’s personal battle with the coronavirus and more local news you need.

On Tuesday, San Diego County officials announced the greatest single-day jump in fatalities: 12 more people in the county have died from the virus. That's a total of 31. Also on the San Diego News Matters podcast: the overall coronavirus testing ability in San Diego is ramping up, a wearable device researchers say could help healthcare workers stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic, some creative downtown coronavirus communications and more local news you need.

A coronavirus vaccine developed in San Diego will undergo human testing this week. Plus: San Diego County health officials have directed hospitals to further restrict equipment used to protect health care workers from the coronavirus, checking in on border crossers amid the border squeeze and more local news you need.

With cases of coronavirus expected to surge here in the coming weeks, officials Sunday announced plans to build a 250-bed federal hospital at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido. Plus: lots of locals are stepping up to help by fostering dogs on a temporary basis and more local news you need.

San Diego News Matters is KPBS’ daily podcast bringing you the local news you need.

San Diego County officials Thursday announced some essential employees must wear face coverings to prevent the spread of coronavirus. That directive comes as deaths from the illness increased by one to 16 and total positive cases grew to 966. Plus: which students could fall through the cracks as school districts move to distance learning and more local news you need.

Mayor Faulconer on Wednesday announced he is directing all vacant city property to be used to support an expected surge in COVID-19 patients. Plus: San Diegans are generally behaving themselves and following orders to stay at home through the outbreak and more local news you need.