We're Here to Help

Merit Family,

 

As COVID-19 continues to spread around the globe, Merit is taking every precaution possible to protect employees. This week's newsletter focuses on the many measures put into place at facilities worldwide to help keep you and your coworkers safe. It also provides an outline of common day-to-day activities and the risk of COVID-19 infection they may pose. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. 

MERIT COVID-19 PRECAUTION MEASURES

Wearing a mask at work

1. Mandatory Masks on Campus

Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) now recommend wearing cloth masks for the general public. Research1 has also shown that countries with cultural norms or government policies that favor mask-wearing had lower coronavirus death rates. Following this guidance, Merit has made it mandatory for employees to wear masks while at work.

2. Social Distancing

We now know that COVID-19 can be spread from one person to another through respiratory droplets.2 Given this information, Merit believes social distancing is one of the most effective tools that can slow the spread of COVID-19. To help keep people separated during this time, the company has implemented social distancing at each of its facilities by placing visible reminder stickers on the floor, reorganizing café lines and seating, spreading apart outdoor eating areas, and—where applicable—working from home.

 

3. Cashless Cafés

According to the CDC,2 it may be possible to catch COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. Although this isn't the main way the virus spreads and more research is needed, Merit has implemented a cashless café at its global headquarters in Utah to help minimize the exchange of cash between people, potentially helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

 

4. Frequent Handwashing

As mentioned, respiratory viruses like COVID-19 are spread when droplets containing the virus enter your body through, for example, your eyes or nose. Commonly, this happens by way of your hands. Merit encourages employees to frequently wash hands for at least 20 seconds to eliminate traces of the virus.

5. Daily Temperature Screening

One of the most common symptoms of COVID-19—and one that can easily be monitored—is a fever.3 Everyone, including vendors, is required to have his or her temperature taken before entering Merit production sites.

6. No Business Travel

The CDC has cautioned4 that travel increases the chances of getting and spreading COVID-19. Following this guidance, Merit has placed a temporary hold on all business travel.

 

7. Return-to-Work Checklist

Any employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 have to go through a return-to-work checklist and must be screened by me to ensure there's no current illness. An appropriate time must also pass before returning to work.

 

8. "If Feeling Ill, Stay Home."

To minimize the potential spread of COVID-19 at Merit facilities, we continue to advertise that employees who aren't feeling well not come to work and to immediately contact their healthcare provider.

9. Heightened Cleaning Efforts

Thanks to a hardworking janitorial staff, Merit continues to keep all facilities clean, with special attention given to disinfecting frequently touched surfaces during this time.

10. COVID-19 Weekly Newsletters

In case you've missed them in the past, I send out a weekly "We're Here to Help" newsletter (this one included). These newsletters answer common COVID-19 questions, often include the latest research and recommendations, and offer tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe during the pandemic.

DAILY ACTIVITES: COVID-19 RISK OF INFECTION

The Texas Medical Association (TMA) has released a ranking of more than 35 day-to-day activities based on how big a risk of COVID-19 infection they pose. The activities included in the chart were ranked by physicians from the TMA COVID-19 Task Force and the TMA Committee on Infectious Diseases. The physician experts were asked to assign a risk of 1 (least risk) to 10 (riskiest) to each of these activities using the following criteria:

 

  • Whether it's inside or outside
  • Proximity to others
  • Exposure time
  • Likelihood of compliance
  • Personal risk level

Traveler

They were asked to assume that participants in these activities were following currently recommended safety protocols (including wearing masks) when possible. Click on the chart to view your risk.

HEALTHY RECIPE OF THE WEEK

To help you get through the season in a COVID-19-friendly way, each week I'll post a new healthy recipe to try. This week?

Healthy Zucchini Corn Fritters

Healthy Zucchini Corn Fritters

Finally! Something to do with all of those zucchini in the garden (and the ones your neighbors so kindly gave you). This recipe is super simple, requiring less than 10 ingredients. Pair it with avocado, salsa, or black beans for a light and delicious meal.

 

Find the recipe here.

SILVER LINING STORY

It seems like every day (COVID-19 or no) we're bombarded with frightening and worrisome news. But the truth of the matter is, good things are happening all around us—we just have to look.

This week's Silver Lining Story is about 11-year-old Lucy Blaylock who has sewn 500 blankets and over 1,000 masks for children in need.

 

"I always hope they'll know someone cares about them," Lucy told Good Morning America. "It feels good to know that I'm helping all these kids feel loved."

 

Watch Lucy's story here.

Dawn Thompson, a pre-K teacher in Brooklyn, NY

UPDATE ON COVID-19 AT MERIT

We've now identified 58 cases of COVID-19 among the Merit family of approximately 6,100 (42 in the United States, 11 in Mexico, two in Sales-EMEA, two in Ireland, and one in The Netherlands). Employees are recovering at home or at the hospital. Many employees who have recovered have returned to work.

COVID-19 Metrics

All facilities have implemented stringent COVID-19 protection measures to prevent any spread of the virus among Merit employees.

 

Please visit the Merit Metro (for employees who have Merit email addresses) or www.merit.com/covid-19-response-resource-page/ for the most updated information on Merit and COVID-19.

 

Please stay safe. Please stay positive (and keep smiling from 6 feet). I look forward to sharing more information with you soon.

 

Regards,

Dr. Nicole Priest, MD

Merit Medical Chief Wellness Officer

 

REFERENCES 

  1. Leffler, Christopher, Edsel Ing, Joseph Lykins, Matthew C Hogan, Craig McKeown, and Andrzej Grzybowski. 2020. “Association of Country-wide Coronavirus Mortality with Demographics, Testing, Lockdowns, and Public Wearing of Masks (Update June 15, 2020).”
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020. “How COVID-19 Spreads.” Last modified June 16, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html.
  3. Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2020. “Coronavirus Symptoms: Frequently Asked Questions.” Last modified June 26, 2020. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-symptoms-frequently-asked-questions.
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020. “Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.” Last modified May 28, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/faqs.html.

 

              

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