Merit Family,

With more and more people being tested for COVID-19, I'd like to clarify how this may impact working at Merit. 

If you or someone you live with is being tested for COVID-19, please communicate this with your supervisor to discuss next steps before returning to work. 

In doing so, you can help avoid the potential spread of COVID-19 by working with us to determine when it is safe for you to return to work. 

In addition to talking with your supervisor, please use the below information to help you understand the difference between quarantine and isolation and situational recommendations for both. 

QUARANTINE VS. ISOLATION

QUARANTINE

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends quarantine to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others.

Quarantine helps prevent spread of COVID-19 that can occur before people know they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms.

People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department.

Who needs to quarantine?

Anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19. 

This includes people who previously had COVID-19 and people who have taken a serologic (antibody) test and have antibodies to the virus.

What counts as close contact?

• You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes
• You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
• You had direct physical contact with the person (touched, hugged, or kissed them)
• You shared eating or drinking utensils
• They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you

Steps to take

Stay home and monitor your health

• Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19
• Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19
• If possible, stay away others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19

Find examples of when quarantine is necessary here.

ISOLATION

The CDC recommends isolation to separate people infected with COVID-19 from people who are not infected.

People who are in isolation should stay home until it's safe for them to be around others. In the home, anyone sick or infected should separate themselves from others by staying in a specific “sick room” or area and using a separate bathroom (if available).

Who needs to isolate?

People who have COVID-19

• People who have symptoms of COVID-19 and are able to recover at home
• People who have no symptoms (are asymptomatic) but have tested positive for COVID-19

Steps to take

Stay home except to get medical care:

• Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately
• Stay in a separate room from other household members, if possible
• Use a separate bathroom, if possible
• Avoid contact with other members of the household and pets
• Don't share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils
• Wear a cloth face covering when around other people, if you are able to

Find examples of when isolation is necessary here. 

Whether you need to quarantine or isolate, please communicate this with your supervisor to discuss next steps before returning to work.

Please also communicate with me and with your healthcare provider throughout the process to ensure coming back to work is safe.

MEDWATCH SAFETY ALERT: FDA RECALLS HAND SANITIZERS

The FDA has seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products that are labeled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but have tested positive for methanol, or wood alcohol, contamination.

Methanol isn't an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and must not be used due to its toxic effects. The FDA's investigation on hand sanitizer products with methanol is ongoing. Please visit the agency's website daily to see an updated list of hand sanitizer products to avoid.

Methanol exposure can result in the following:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Blurred vision

• Permanent blindness
• Seizures
• Coma

• Permanent damage to the nervous system
• Death

Anyone who uses these products on their hands is at risk; however, young children who accidentally ingest products with methanol and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute are most at risk for methanol poisoning.

FDA Recommendations

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially:

• After using the bathroom
• Before eating
• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose

If soap and water are not available, the CDC recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol

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?

Grilled Eggplant Steaks with Gremolata and Tomatoes

Made from parsley, garlic, and lemons—this classic Italian gremolata is a delicious addition to grilled eggplant. Top with tomatoes and cheese (or not!) for a healthy dinner side dish.

Find the full 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 comes from Lafayette, Louisiana, where Grant Lashley—a local ER doctor—was released from the hospital and reunited with his family after a 3-month battle with COVID-19. Dr. Grant suffered a stroke as a complication of the virus. 

“It was very overwhelming—just so exciting,” Dr. Lashley told ABC News of being able to walk out of the hospital on his own. “That was my goal. I said, 'I'm going to do it ... I'm gonna walk out of here when I leave.'”

Read the full story here.

UPDATE ON COVID-19 AT MERIT

We've now identified 83 cases of COVID-19 among the Merit family of approximately 5,900 (64 in the United States, 11 in Mexico, three in Sales-EMEA, two in Ireland, one in The Netherlands, one in Brazil, and one in South Africa). Employees are recovering at home or at the hospital. Many employees who have recovered have returned to work.

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

This communication is for internal distribution only. You may discuss appropriate content of the communication with individuals outside of Merit, but may not distribute the communication itself to individuals outside of Merit.