San Francisco health brief: TB outbreak response, RESET Center contract, UCSF imaging alliance, and insurance enrollment update
San Francisco, CA – February 27, 2026 – TB testing updates at Riordan High, a new RESET sobering center contract, UCSF imaging alliance, and coverage news.
San Francisco health officials and major healthcare providers released several updates this week that touch on outbreaks, emergency-response policy, hospital infrastructure and insurance coverage.
Outbreak update: Tuberculosis investigation at Riordan High
San Francisco’s tuberculosis investigation tied to Archbishop Riordan High School remains focused on the school community, as health officials continue follow-up on test results and medical evaluations.
In a Feb. 21 update carried by Bay City News Service, the San Francisco Department of Public Health said the overall risk to the general public appears low. The report cited 204 latent TB cases identified through testing, along with three confirmed active cases and three additional suspected active cases. Health officials said people with confirmed and suspected active TB were on treatment and that there were no contagious cases on campus at that time.
ABC7 reported that students returned to in-person classes earlier this week after weeks of remote and hybrid learning during testing and clearance.
Healthcare and public safety: RESET sobering center contract
San Francisco is moving ahead with the RESET Center, a 25-bed facility intended to serve as a drop-off location where police can bring people arrested for public drug use as an alternative to jail while they sober and are offered optional connections to services.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the city approved a 26-month, performance-based contract with Connections Health Solutions to operate the site at 444 Sixth St., with payment tied to five metrics such as officer drop-off times and the share of clients linked to recovery services at discharge. The Chronicle also reported the project has faced legal and policy questions about how the facility is classified and regulated, even as city leaders describe it as a new approach to accountability in human-services contracting.
Hospital technology: UCSF Health and GE HealthCare alliance
UCSF announced a 10-year Care Alliance with GE HealthCare aimed at modernizing imaging across UCSF Health sites. UCSF said the collaboration will focus on advanced imaging capabilities, remote scanning support, magnetic resonance performance and workforce development, including radiologic technologist education.
Health insurance: Covered California ends 2026 open enrollment
Covered California said open enrollment closed with nearly 1.93 million people statewide signing up for or renewing coverage for 2026. The agency reported 235,055 new plan selections and nearly 1.7 million renewals, while warning that the expiration of enhanced federal tax credits has affected cancellations and plan choices. Covered California also reported that about 20% of its enrollees live in the Greater Bay Area.
For San Francisco residents who missed open enrollment, Covered California noted that special enrollment can still apply after qualifying life events. People enrolled in Medi-Cal managed care in San Francisco can also find renewal and coverage help through San Francisco Health Plan.
Sources
https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/sf-low-risk-to-public-from-tuberculosis-outbreak-21644488.php
https://abc7news.com/post/riordan-high-school-students-return-classroom-tuberculosis-outbreak-2-weeks-remote-hybrid-learning/18642389/
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/sf-drug-sobering-center-will-get-paid-on-results-21361378.php
https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2026/02/431521/ge-healthcare-and-ucsf-health-announce-10-year-care-alliance
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.sfhp.org/
