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.

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.