Merit Family,

In a recent newsletter, we talked about things to consider if traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Again, let me reiterate, travel increases your risk of becoming infected as well as the chances of spreading COVID-19. Therefore, staying home is still the best way to protect yourself and others. 

I encourage you to continue following this advice, and at the same time start looking at your own home and community with new eyes. Find novel (and safe) ways to get out of your comfort zone and have fun! I hope this newsletter will spark your creativity, helping you to discover new activities that bring you and your family joy during the warm-weather months ahead.

COVID-19-FRIENDLY SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Have you ever heard the saying, "Happiness is homemade"? I feel like this couldn't be truer than it is right now. Here are some "homemade" ways to enjoy your days with family or simply within the company of yourself:

• Start a book club. This can include a virtual one with friends or one that includes the family members in your home. Here is a helpful site with thousands of book reviews and ideas for book club reads. Or you can go online and see what books your local library recommends.

• Try new recipes. Get your creative culinary juices flowing right in your own kitchen. Here are 40 healthy recipes to get you started (also see below for our chosen healthy recipe of the week).

Turn up the music and have an at-home dance party. This can be both great exercise and a stress reliever. Take a scenic daytrip. Pack a lunch and plan a scenic route that doesn't require you to stop for gas or public restrooms.

• Make a scrapbook. Scrapbooking is a fun hobby that allows you to preserve wonderful memories for years to come.

• Pick up a new hobby. Remember how you've always wanted to paint? Or draw? Fix old cars? What about refinishing that vintage dresser you found at a yard sale? There's no time like the present.

• Start (and finish!) home improvement projects. This can be the year you're finally able to spring clean, fix that squeaky door, AND paint the bathroom.

Start a garden. Enjoy the literal fruits of your labor with a backyard garden. Here's a helpful site to get started. Don't have room for a garden? No problem. Start growing nutritious herbs indoors.

• Get some exercise. Hop on that bike, go for a jog, walk the dog, start a virtual aerobics class with friends in your backyard (or living room). The sky is the limit!

• Movie marathon! Pop some popcorn, snuggle up on the couch, and pick your favorite movies to devour.

Ideas for kids Play (screen-free) games with your kids. Hide and seek, obstacle courses, and scavenger hunts around the house or yard can be just as much fun now as when you were a kid. Here are some game ideas for younger children, too.

• Arts and crafts. Here are several arts and crafts ideas that include items you can find in your own home.

• At-home art show. Gather all those arts and crafts and create a family art show event in your home or backyard.

• Virtual playdates. Set up a time for your kids to virtually catch up with friends and family.

• Learn new skills. Search for free online videos (e.g., YouTube) for tutorials on how to learn a new language, build things, sing, dance, etc.

HEALTHY RECIPE OF THE WEEK

To help you get through the summer in a COVID-19-friendly way, each week I'll post a new seasonal healthy recipe to try. This week? Simple Southwest Tofu Scramble Start your mornings with a plate full of protein and veggies. This Simple Southwest Tofu Scramble is flavorful and-just like its name-is simple to make. Try some fresh salsa and avocado slices on the side. Enjoy!

MORE CDC TRAVEL INFO

Although staying home is preferred, sometime travel is necessary. Please consider the following risks for getting or spreading COVID-19, depending on how you travel:

Air travel Air travel requires spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes.

However, social distancing is difficult on crowded flights, and you may have to sit near others (within 6 feet), sometimes for hours. This may increase your risk for exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.

Bus or train travel

Traveling on buses and trains for any length of time can involve sitting or standing within 6 feet of others.

Car travel

Making stops along the way for gas, food, or bathroom breaks can put you and your traveling companions in close contact with other people and surfaces.

RV travel You may have to stop less often for food or bathroom breaks, but RV travel typically means staying at RV parks overnight and getting gas and supplies at other public places. These stops may put you and those with you in the RV in close contact with others.

It's important that you follow state and local travel restrictions. For up-to-date information and travel guidance, check the state or local health department where you are, along your route, and at your planned destination. While you're traveling, it's possible a state or local government may put into place travel restrictions, such as stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders, mandated quarantines upon arrival, or even state border closures. Plan to keep checking for updates as you travel.

Learn more about how to protect yourself and others while traveling.

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 the UK, where endangered spiny seahorses were seen in British waters for the first time in more than two years.

Experts believe the seahorses have been able to return to their marine habitat due to fewer people and boats in the area since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Read the full story.

UPDATE ON COVID-19 AT MERIT

We've now identified 39 cases of COVID-19 among the Merit family of approximately 6,100 (24 in the United States, one in France, two in Ireland, one in The Netherlands, and 11 in Mexico). These employees are all recovering well and are at home or 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

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