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.

A person who works at the Otay Mesa Detention Center tested positive for COVID-19. Plus: Empty U C San Diego dorms may be converted into a care center to help with a looming hospital bed shortage, a new drug tunnel is found and more of the local news you need.

The number of COVID-19 cases in San Diego County increased to 603 Monday, a jump of 84 from Sunday. Plus: the state is looking for retired and student health care workers to help meet an expected surge of coronavirus patients in California and more local news you need.

San Diego County health officials said Sunday that five food handlers have tested positive for COVID-19 — four restaurant employees and a grocery store employee. Plus: the county's homeless shelters are struggling to meet the needs of the people they serve amid the coronavirus pandemic and more local news you need.

A San Diego police officer from the Western Division became the first law enforcement officer in the city of San Diego to test positive for COVID-19, Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced Friday. Plus: Immigration detention facilities could become coronavirus hot spots and more local news you need.

The KPBS news team has been taking questions from readers and listeners to find out what people in our community want to know about the coronavirus pandemic. In today's podcast, we answer a question from someone who wants to know if dogs can get the disease. Also on the podcast: another local death from COVID-19, dentists are donating protective equipment to health care workers, local media outlets shutdown because of the pandemic and more local news you need.

San Diego senior-care facilities believe they have enough caregivers to withstand a coronavirus outbreak, but they are worried. And biotechnology companies were not explicitly included on the governor’s list of essential businesses, but some industry leaders think that should change. Plus, business closures and job losses can be especially tough for immigrant communities -- one that's been hit especially hard is the Somali community in City Heights.

It appears that the days before and after the March 3 primary were the beginning of a COVID-19 outbreak that's so far struck four members of the local Democratic Party. And around 350,000 San Diego County workers are at high risk of layoffs and reduced hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, The county Board of Supervisors approved a moratorium on evictions for both residents and small businesses located in the unincorporated area.

The coronavirus outbreak is creating big-budget unknowns for cities, the county and schools. The future of billion-dollar budgets is unclear as local governments, schools respond to the virus. And gun stores are seeing record sales during the coronavirus outbreak, but are they allowed to stay open under Gov. Newsom's orders? Plus, the hospital ship USNS Mercy left San Diego Monday bound for Los Angeles in support of the nation's pandemic response efforts.