Measles case prompts Bay Area exposure notice; Covered California closes 2026 enrollment
San Jose, CA – March 2, 2026 – Santa Clara County confirmed a measles case with public exposure; Covered California closed open enrollment with 1.93M enrollees.
Santa Clara County public health officials have confirmed a measles case in an adult county resident, triggering an exposure notice that may matter for South Bay families who traveled or dined out in the region in late February.
Outbreak update: Measles case confirmed in Santa Clara County resident
The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department said it was notified of the case late Wednesday, Feb. 25. Officials said the person recently returned from international travel, was vaccinated, and is isolating at home.
Public health officials said the individual was contagious while visiting several private work and health care locations and while dining at a Panda Express in Burlingame (San Mateo County). The public exposure window listed by officials was Feb. 23 and Feb. 24, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., at Panda Express, 1453 Burlingame Ave., Burlingame.
Santa Clara and San Mateo county health departments said they are working with state and local partners to identify and notify people who may have been exposed and to provide information intended to prevent further spread. In the county’s announcement, officials described measles as an airborne virus and noted it can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an indoor space.
County officials said this is the first confirmed measles case reported in a Santa Clara County resident since May 2025.
Health insurance: Covered California ends 2026 open enrollment
Covered California said open enrollment for 2026 ended with 1,927,371 Californians selecting or renewing marketplace coverage. The agency reported 235,055 new plan selections and nearly 1.7 million renewals, keeping overall enrollment near record highs.
The marketplace also reported that 389,590 enrollees are in plans receiving state-funded subsidies that lower monthly premiums, with the agency citing an average of $45 per month in assistance for those subsidized enrollees in 2026. Covered California said renewals stayed strong, while new plan selections fell compared with last year. It also reported that cancellation rates were higher among some renewing members who lost enhanced federal premium tax credits.
For San Jose and the broader Bay Area, Covered California noted that about 20% of its enrollees live in the Greater Bay Area. The agency said special enrollment remains available for people who experience qualifying life events, such as losing a job-based plan, getting married, or having a child.
Local context
As measles activity and insurance affordability shifts make headlines, local officials continue to emphasize routine prevention and staying connected to care. County public health messaging around measles exposure has focused on following official instructions if an exposure is suspected and calling ahead before arriving at a medical facility for non-emergency care, so clinics can take steps to protect other patients and visitors.
Sources
https://publichealth.santaclaracounty.gov/news/news-release/public-health-announces-measles-case-santa-clara-county-resident
https://abc7news.com/post/santa-clara-county-public-health-department-reports-new-case-measles/18658310/
https://www.coveredca.com/newsroom/news-releases/2026/02/26/as-enhanced-federal-subsidies-expire-covered-california-ends-open-enrollment-with-state-subsidies-keeping-renewals-steady-for-now-and-new-signups-down/
If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.
