Oakland health update: AHS layoffs debate, Kaiser strike return, Covered California numbers, and a Bay Area measles alert
Oakland, CA – March 2, 2026 – Safety-net hospital layoffs head to a county hearing, Kaiser strike disruptions ease, and a Bay Area measles alert.
Alameda Health System layoffs: county discussion set for March 3
Layoffs across Alameda Health System (AHS), the county’s safety-net network that includes Oakland’s Highland Hospital, remain a live issue heading into a scheduled Alameda County Board of Supervisors discussion on Tuesday, March 3.
In a Feb. 27 update following a Feb. 25 Beilenson hearing, SEIU Local 1021 said the Board of Supervisors heard hours of testimony and indicated it plans to allocate money to AHS to delay layoffs while a working group is developed to address broader financial concerns. The union said the board is expected to take up those plans at its March 3 meeting in Oakland.
Kaiser Permanente strike ends, staff return begins
More than 30,000 Kaiser Permanente nurses and other health care professionals ended an open-ended strike with a return-to-work date of Feb. 24, according to reporting by the Associated Press and the San Francisco Chronicle.
Kaiser said employees would return through a phased reentry plan focused on patient safety, employee well-being, and member access and experience. The AP reported that Kaiser facilities remained operational during the walkout, though some appointments and procedures were modified.
Health insurance: Covered California closes 2026 open enrollment
Covered California said open enrollment for 2026 ended Feb. 26 with 1,927,371 people statewide selecting or renewing marketplace plans. The agency reported 235,055 new plan selections and nearly 1.7 million renewals, and said about 20% of enrollees live in the Greater Bay Area.
Covered California also said the expiration of enhanced federal tax credits affected affordability and plan choices for some households, including shifts to lower-tier plans.
Outbreak watch: Bay Area measles exposure alert
San Mateo County Health and Santa Clara County Public Health issued a public notice about a potential measles exposure at a Panda Express in Burlingame on Feb. 23 and Feb. 24, according to SFGATE and the San Francisco Chronicle. Officials listed the exposure window as 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on both days and said the case involved a Santa Clara County resident who had recently traveled internationally.
Officials said they are tracing potential exposures and advised people who think they may have been exposed to follow public health guidance and contact a health care provider before seeking in-person care.
Sources
https://www.seiu1021.org/article/beilenson-hearing-update
https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/kaiser-nurses-strike-ends-21901057.php
https://apnews.com/article/1726260636f3a6bc5f6efbf830f353e2
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/
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/bay-area-measles-exposure-21948900.php
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/measles-case-santa-clara-county-21945497.php
If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.
