Updated Restoration Blueprint released

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July 13 kicked off a 100-day comment period on the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary’s updated set of rules, proposals and management plan — known as the Restoration Blueprint. Check out the proposed rulemaking at floridakeys.noaa.gov/blueprint. Submit your comments at regulations.gov. Coast Guard Air Station Miami conducts drills off the waters of the Florida Keys on June 28. DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly

JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

UPDATED RESTORATION BLUEPRINT RELEASED

PROPOSALS EXTEND BOUNDARIES, END ANCHORING IN SANCTUARY PRESERVATION AREAS

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary’s Advisory Council members listened intently as an updated set of proposed regulations and a management plan — known as the Restoration Blueprint — was unveiled during a July 12 meeting at Hawk’s Cay Resort on Duck Key.

“This is an exciting day for a number of reasons,” said George Garrett, SAC chairman, to kick off the meeting. “I know we’ve all been waiting for it because we went through a year or two where we were simply waiting.”

Specifically, the sanctuary is proposing expanding the current 3,800-square-mile boundary surrounding the Florida Keys to 4,795 square miles. North America’s only coral barrier reef falls within the sanctuary, and so do 6,000-plus species of marine life, seagrass beds and mangrove-fringed island.

Joanne Delaney, resource protection and permit coordinator for the sanctuary, said the majority of the expansion includes Pulley Ridge Wildlife Management Area in the Gulf of Mexico. It has the deepest known coral reef off the continental U.S. The ridge itself is a drowned barrier island some 100 kilometers long by 5 kilometers wide – about 62 miles by 3 miles – northwest of the Dry Tortugas and running parallel to the Florida peninsula.

The zone overlaps with an existing Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Habitat Area of Particular Concern. While fishing is allowed under the proposal, no anchoring would be allowed within the management area.

The sanctuary boundary also lines up with the “area to be avoided” line, which was established in 1990 and prohibits tank vessels and vessels over 50 meters from traversing the waters off the Florida Keys.

Even with the proposed boundary expansions and modifications, sanctuary officials said 15% of the sanctuary’s 4,800 square miles would fall within managed zones.

An assessment on the sanctuary in 2011 found that conditions within the sanctuary were fair or poor. Since that report, the Keys witnessed a destructive hurricane in Irma and a massive influx of boaters on the Keys waters since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A set of proposals released to the public in August 2019 outlined various alternatives to combat the decline in marine conditions. Comments submitted by the public to regulations.gov were examined by sanctuary staff, bringing forth the proposed rulemaking on July 12 for another round of comments.

Sarah Fangman, sanctuary superintendent, said the Restoration Blueprint is “our attempt to do something” with a Keys ecosystem seeing continued stress.

“This is about our future and we all have to do a little compromise,” she said. “As you hear proposals where we made changes, you’ll hear that we listened.”

Limited-use suggestions for Carysfort, Sombrero and Sand Key reefs found in the 2019 draft of the Restoration Blueprint weren’t included in the latest proposal released to the public. A recommendation to end overnight use of mooring buoys wasn’t included either. And sanctuary officials said public input helped modify some original ideas, including recommendation for greater access and use of channels at Steamboat Creek, Tavernier, Marathon and Marquesas Keys.

A proposed rule would reopen existing no-access areas, including the tidal flat south of Marvin Key and the interior channels at Mud Keys. Sanctuary officials said it’s based on updated data regarding bird populations in these areas.

Another regulation outlined within the proposed rulemaking deals with discharges by cruise ships. Specifically, cruise ships would only be allowed to discharge cooling water, but anything else thrown into the water would be prohibited within the sanctuary. For all vessels besides ships, deck wash and cooling water are allowed, as well as chumming and other fish activities.

As for fish feeding, the proposed rule would prohibit feeding or attracting fish, including sharks, from any vessel or while diving in federal waters. State rules currently restrict such activity within state waters. Chumming for

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traditional fishing is still allowed, according to the proposed rule.

The proposed rule would also prohibit anchoring, mooring or occupying a vessel at risk of becoming derelict or deserting vessels aground, anchored or adrift. The rule also prohibits leaving any harmful matter aboard a grounded or deserted vessel.

In a bid to protect corals, NOAA is proposing no anchoring in the 17 sanctuary preservation areas, 13 restoration areas and six conservation areas. That means vessels would only be able to use mooring buoys or be in transit. Vessels greater than 65 feet would be required to use a designated large-vessel mooring buoy.

The proposed draft rule would expand Carysfort SPA from 2.2 square miles to 3.7 square miles and Alligator SPA from 0.32 square miles to 0.52 square miles in the Upper Keys in order to protect deep reef habitat. Andy Bruckner, NOAA research coordinator, said the Alligator SPA supports barrel sponges and tube sponges, as well as 618 species of reef fish. French Creek and Rock Creek SPAs would be eliminated, and two new SPAs would be created in Turtle Rocks SPA in the Upper Keys and Turtle Shoal SPA in the Middle Keys.

Bruckner said the proposed new SPAs would protect patch reefs and refuge for corals proven to be resilient to bleaching and disease. Bruckner said Turtle Rocks contains the largest remaining wild population of staghorn coral in the Upper Keys. Turtle Shoal SPA protects an important complex of mid-channel aggregate and individual patch reefs surrounded by seagrass beds, which historically supported large populations of staghorn and pillar corals.

Beth Dieveney, policy analyst for the sanctuary, said existing ecological reserves and special use areas will now be known as conservation areas. That includes the likes of Western Sambo Ecological Reserve. Under the proposed rule, Western Sambo would expand by 1 square mile to capture additional deep reef habitats at the 90-foot depth contour. No-anchor restrictions would be included for the most southern area of the prominent coral reef, while no fishing will continue to be enforced boundary-wide, as this zone provides a corridor for the migration of juvenile and adult fish and invertebrate populations, particularly the spiny lobster.

The proposed expansion of the existing Tortugas South Ecological Reserve by 18 square miles would capture additional habitat west of Riley’s Hump known to support fish spawning aggregations and deep habitat features in the southern portion of the marine zone.

The proposed rule establishes 47 wildlife management areas, of which 23 are new. Some WMAs like Big Mullet Key WMA have no-motor zones, while others such as Marquesas Keys WMA have no-entry zones.

At Western Dry Rocks Wildlife Management Area, NOAA is proposing transit only and no anchoring from April 1 to July 1. That mirrors Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission’s seasonal closure of the area to fishing from April 1 to July 1. The area contains a continuous reef with high coral cover and diversity. This area has ecological significance for supporting multi-fish spawning, according to sanctuary officials.

These proposals and more are in the updated Restoration Blueprint, which is at floridakeys.noaa.gov/blueprint.

In addition to proposed rulemaking, a draft management plan was unveiled, with proposed actions that focus on research, regulatory compliance, community involvement and stewardship. Understanding sanctuary resources, improving conditions including water quality, reducing threats and human use impacts and supporting collaborative and coordinated management were among the goals.

While SAC members said they still need to digest all the information, several voiced concern over the lack of artificial reefs as a possible solution within the management plan.

“It is regarded across the board in Key West, the business community and the recreational watermen in our community, as an overwhelming success,” said Joe Weatherby, SAC member representing the diving industry in the Lower Keys.

Mimi Stafford, SAC citizen-at-large member from the Lower Keys, brought up the issue over enforcing new regulations and how the public could help bring more officers in. Fangman said the sanctuary is working with law enforcement and NOAA to bring more resources. But she couldn’t say that it would lead to catching everyone who breaks these rules if they go forward.

“That’s true on the road. We still need speed limits. We still need regulations to protect these resources,” she said.

FWC Captain David Dipre agreed with Fangman’s remarks. Laws aren’t only made for the purpose of making an arrest or issuing a citation. Dipre said laws are made “because we encourage people to do the right thing.”

Dipre added that FWC is adding more officers with 15 currently in the academy. That will bring the law enforcement agency to full staff in December.

A 100-day public comment period on the Restoration Blueprint kicked off July 13 and will conclude Oct. 21. People can visit regulations.gov and use the docket number NOAANOS-2019-0094 to provide comments.

People will also have the opportunity to provide oral comment during the Aug. 30 virtual meeting (register at floridakeys.noaa.gov/ blueprint); Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. at Coral Shores High School; Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. at Marathon High School auditorium; Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. at Key West High School auditorium; and the Oct. 18 Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting at 9 a.m. in Marathon.

Written comments can be submitted to Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 33 East Quay Road, Key West, Florida, 33040 (be sure to include Proposed Rule in the subject heading).

1. NOAA proposes to require large vessels to use designated large vessel mooring buoys and small vessels to use regular mooring buoys. MATT MCINTOSH/NOAA

2. Carysfort Reef in Key Largo. DAVID GROSS/ Keys Weekly

3. A grounded sailboat is spotted not far from Whale Harbor Channel in Islamorada on July 8. DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly

4. NOAA proposes to add 23 new wildlife management areas to Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. These areas are designed to minimize disturbances to sanctuary habitats and species dependent on those habitats, like nesting birds and turtle nests. KRISTIE KILLAM/Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex

5. NOAA is proposing a new ‘no-anchoring’ regulation in all ‘sanctuary preservation areas,’ that help sustain critical marine species and habitats. NOAA/Contributed

Islamorada Village Hall. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE INVESTIGATES SUNSHINE COMPLAINT SURROUNDING FORMER ISLAMORADA ATTORNEY’S SEPARATION AGREEMENT

JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward said his office is investigating whether a Sunshine violation occurred in the village of Islamorada regarding a separation agreement with former attorney Roget Bryan that was brought before the council on May 12.

Ward told the Keys Weekly on July 11 that his office initiated an investigation a week-and-a-half ago following a complaint. It all stems from the May council meeting that, at its sixth hour, heard Bryan publicly state his resignation; he became the village’s first inhouse attorney in 2013. He said at the time that he had no appetite for the external political dynamics that involve attacks on his “name, character, reputation, integrity and most egregiously my family.”

Following Bryan’s statements, Mayor Pete Bacheler, Vice Mayor Henry Rosenthal and councilmen Mark Gregg and Buddy Pinder approved a “Tab X” that appeared on the agenda just before the May 12 meeting, entailing a separation agreement effective May 20. Councilman David Webb was absent from the meeting.

Council members didn’t delve into specific comments or questions regarding the agreement during the meeting. Rather, the dais extended its thanks and appreciation to Bryan.

The agreement includes 20 weeks of severance pay, unused sick and vacation leave, insurance benefits and retirement benefits, all of it totaling around $185,000. Bryan said during the May 12 meeting that he had the opportunity to speak with each council member on the agreement. He said that each council member also had the opportunity to speak with external counsel on the matter.

Florida Government-in-the-Sunshine Law, enacted in 1967, provides right of access to governmental proceedings of public boards or commissions at the state and local levels. It includes such requirements as meetings of public boards or commissions be open to the public and reasonable notice of such meetings be given. It also forbids council members to discuss matters with each other outside a public meeting.

Per the agreement, Bryan and the village will refrain from making or publishing statements that are defamatory or disparaging against one another. Eileen Rodriguez, legal secretary, also left the village and received severance. The agreements raised some questions and concerns from the Islamorada Community Alliance.

“Is there something the taxpayers of Islamorada need to know about why this handsome severance package was offered to Mr. Bryan? What ‘external political dynamics’ caused this, and perhaps both May 20th departures,” the ICA states in its June newsletter.

Ward wouldn’t disclose exactly whom investigators talked to due to the fact it’s an ongoing investigation. As to the length of the investigation, Ward said “it depends how cooperative the witnesses are.”

The Keys Weekly reached out to Bacheler and Rosenthal for comment. Both declined to speak due to the ongoing investigation.

With the departure of Bryan, the dais appointed the law firm Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman as acting village attorney at a discounted government rate of $250 per hour. John Quick serves as primary interim village attorney, while Alison Smith and James White are supporting attorneys.

MONROE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT’S STATE RATING DROPS TO ‘B’

Five Keys schools get ‘A’ grade

Coral Shores High School. WEEKLY FILE PHOTO

Florida Department of Education’s school ratings released on July 7 gave the Monroe County School District a “B” rating for the 2021-22 school year.

It’s the first time the education department released school grade data since 2019, as a COVID-19 pandemic disrupted assessments during the 2019-20 school year. For much of the spring 2020 semester, students were learning at home in a virtual classroom format.

Grades handed to school districts across the state by the education department provide a way to measure a school’s performance. They include such factors as test scores in English, math, science and social studies as well as progress of the lowest quartile of students, graduation rate and college and career acceleration.

Five county schools received an “A” rating: Ocean Studies Charter School, Plantation Key School, Sigsbee Charter School, Sugarloaf School and Treasure Village Montessori School.

Seven schools received a “B” rating: Big Pine Academy Charter School, Coral Shores High School, Key Largo School, Key West High School, Marathon High School, May Sands Montessori School and Stanley Switlik Elementary School.

Three schools received a “C” rating: Gerald Adams Elementary, Horace O’Bryant School and Poinciana Elementary School.

During the 2018-19 school year, before the pandemic altered class the next two years, the district had 10 schools with “A” grades and six with “B” grades. Overall, the school district had an “A” rating that year.

During the 2021-22 school year, the district received a “B” rating. The graduation rate was above 90% and the middle school acceleration rate was up five percentage points.

The district said the middle and combination schools continue to increase participation and performance in advanced level coursework including algebra, geometry and industry certifications. As a district, math achievement learning gains continue to remain competitive. The social studies achievement maintains its high performing status compared to other districts.

“Congratulations to our schools and thank you to all of our staff members for their hard work on behalf of students in the Monroe County Schools,” said Superintendent Theresa Axford in a press release. “School and district grades never tell the full story of student success, but do help guide our efforts and assignment of resources to better meet student needs. Teachers and administrators worked very hard in supporting student achievement last year; they are to be commended for these results.”

The school grade calculation will be updated for the 2022-23 school year to reflect changes in the new F.A.S.T. (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking) Assessments. Last September, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the state would end the Florida Statewide Assessment and create F.A.S.T, which will monitor student progress and foster individual growth.

Additional information is at the Florida Department of Education website at www.fldoe.org. — Weekly staff report

WHAT DOES FLORIDA’S NEW ABORTION LAW MEAN FOR THE KEYS?

PROCEDURE HASN’T BEEN AVAILABLE HERE FOR NEARLY A DECADE

By Mandy Miles, Alex Rickert and Jim McCarthy

Every decision comes with consequences, be they intended outcomes or unanticipated impacts.

Last month’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and make abortion a matter for individual states to legislate is a landmark decision with farreaching implications.

The top court’s ruling prompted a spate of state legislation, as Republican lawmakers acted immediately to make abortions more difficult, or illegal, to obtain or perform. Democrats in some states took the opposite tack, formally legalizing the procedure in state law.

In Florida, the Republican-led state legislature passed House Bill 5, which doesn’t outlaw abortion but shortens the timeframe in which a woman can obtain an abortion from 24 to 15 weeks, The law makes no exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest, but does include a provision for cases in which the mother’s life is endangered or the fetus has a fatal abnormality.

Florida has the third-highest rate of abortion in the country, according to an article on TheHill.com.

But tighter restrictions are being contemplated. Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Gov. Ron DeSantis promised to further restrict abortion access to protect unborn children in Florida. But the governor hasn’t detailed what those expansions would be.

“Florida will continue to defend its recently-enacted pro-life reforms against state court challenges, will work to expand pro-life protections and will stand for life by promoting adoption, foster care and child welfare,” DeSantis said last month.

State Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, who represents the Florida Keys and voted in favor of the bill, told the Keys Weekly this week, “Life begins at conception. Period. I am pro-life and believe the sanctity of life should be protected at all times. However, I think our legislature found a good balance at 15 weeks where a woman can maintain her reproductive rights to a certain degree while also giving a developed fetus over three months a chance to live.”

On the other side of the aisle, Democratic House Minority Leader Evan Jenne said, “Politicians have no business getting between a patient and her doctor. This 15week abortion ban takes away every woman’s right to make personal decisions that should only be made by themselves, with their family, their doctor and their faith. Not only is this unconstitutional and infringes on personal freedom, it also isn’t our place as elected officials to mandate choices women must make about their health.”

State Rep. Jim Mooney voted in favor of House Bill 5. He wasn’t available for comment before press time.

WHAT ABOUT ENFORCEMENT?

As with all laws and legislation, effective enforcement becomes a concern.

With notable staffing shortages in the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and state attorney’s office, the practicality of enforcing the recently enacted changes becomes a question.

House Bill 5 specifically prohibits physicians from performing an abortion if they determine the gestational age of the fetus is more than 15 weeks, but the law does not appear to include any language about penalties for individuals who seek abortions after this time frame.

“I think they’ll probably take it pretty seriously,” said one Keys attorney who declined to be named. “But that tone would have to be set by the police and the State Attorney’s Office. … Do I think they will go after doctors? I think they probably will, and I would not be surprised. Do I think they’re going to prosecute women? I don’t know if the law is allowing them to do that.”

Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward, however, told the Keys Weekly, “The state legislature and the governor are responsible for the laws in the State of Florida. And they’ve passed them. I don’t see where this has any impact on my office.”

Ward was hesitant to offer further comment, adding that in light of ongoing legal battles surrounding the recent legislation at the state level, questions would be better directed to Buddy Jacobs, an attorney representing the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association in Tallahassee. Jacobs was not available for comment before press time.

ABORTION ACCESS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

For the past seven or eight years, there has been no abortion provider in the Florida Keys, said Cali Roberts, executive director of WomanKind women’s health center in Key West.

“It has long been the case that we’ve sent women to Planned Parenthood in Miami, or to A Place for Women in Miami,” Roberts said.

“The burden for women in the Keys is: Do you have transportation to the mainland? Do you have child care for your other children? Can you get off work? And sometimes there’s a 24-hour waiting period. Can you spend the night up there or go back the next day?” Roberts said when asked about local impacts. “Abortion is never a flippant decision and to make laws as if it is and to ban a woman from having control over her body is unconscionable.”

According to the Planned Parenthood website, Florida law requires a person to have two appointments at least 24 hours apart to obtain an abortion, making it more cumbersome and expensive for women in the Keys.

Planned Parenthood does not offer medical abortions beyond 11 weeks. Most abortions today are “medical abortions,” which is a two-pill combination that ends the pregnancy and prompts a heavy period, Roberts said.

Planned Parenthood offered surgical abortion up until 18 weeks prior to passage of the new law in Florida, according to its website.

“And I’d also like to point out that nowhere has it ever been mentioned that there is a paternal responsibility in all of this,” Roberts said. “If he is not responsible from the first pregnancy test she has to take and the first saltine cracker she has to eat for morning sickness, then this is not about the sanctity of life, but about controlling women. There’s never been an abortion when a man was not involved.

“Is there any other law, anywhere, that affects men and women differently?” she said, adding. “In the Keys, birth control is more tantamount than ever before, and WomanKind has established a funding source for birth control, especially for longterm, such as IUDs, and we can reduce the price by 25%.”

Florida Bay and Village legislative priorities?

I was a bit bewildered watching the interaction between the Village Council and our paid state lobbyists during the June 23 Council meeting.

The representatives from the lobbying firm gave an overview of the past legislative session, stating their successes. The lobbyists talked about state grants received and from what I could tell, these are the same grants awarded to all of Monroe County of which Islamorada gets a piece of. Nothing special here.

But what exactly are the Village’s legislative priorities? Sure, we have shared interests with Monroe County, but unlike Monroe County, it appears Islamorada doesn’t have any formally documented legislative priorities, even though we are paying these guys ~$123,000 per year. I submitted a public records request a few weeks ago to see Islamorada’s legislative priorities. None have been provided.

The implication that our lobbyists are wired into Tallahassee lost its impact on me when they also told us that we will have a new crop of legislators in the next legislative session due to term limits. When challenged about members of their firm also representing big sugar, our lobbyists adamantly stated that the three lobbyists working for Islamorada did not represent big sugar but did nothing to address the questioned conflict of interest. Only Councilman Henry Rosenthal seemed to be concerned about any of this.

Then there is the Senate Bill 2508 that Governor DeSantis recently and thankfully vetoed. This bill might have impacted water for Everglades Restoration, Florida Bay water quality and our own water supply. At the beginning of their report, our lobbyists proclaimed they work in lockstep with State Representatives Jim Mooney and Anna Marie Rodriguez, who both regrettably voted for SB 2508, twice. Our lobbyists later went on to tell us that SB 2508 opposition was a priority and an “emotional bill for the Village,” taking action on 5/31/22. But the vote in the state legislature was back in March. In my opinion an obvious contradiction and certainly not a priority. Fishing guide associations deserve the credit for pressing for the veto, not our lobbyists. And our elected state representatives Mooney and Rodriguez need to rethink their commitment to their local constituents and environmental preservation.

The Village Council will soon be voting on renewing a contract with our lobbyists, without documented legislative priorities, with a firm that allegedly also represents big sugar, without a formal performance review, without addressing conflict of interests and without any competitive bidding. The residents of Islamorada deserve better. The Council needs to start by actually managing our lobbying efforts. When doing so, the Council and our state representatives need to make preservation of Florida Bay one of its top legislative priorities.

MONKEYPOX REACHES THE KEYS

AVOID SKIN-TO-SKIN CONTACT WITH A MONKEYPOX LESION OR RASH

MANDY MILES

mandy@keysweekly.com

The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County on July 13 reported the first confirmed case of monkeypox in the Florida Keys.

The virus spreads through casual skin-to-skin contact, including sexual activity, with a monkeypox lesion or rash, said Alison Kerr of the county health department.

She added that hotel housekeepers who change sheets are also vulnerable to the virus. She recommended such workers wear gloves and long sleeves when changing linens.

Testing is done by swabbing and testing one of the rashes or skin lesions that are symptomatic of monkeypox and can appear anywhere on the body.

There is a vaccine available for monkeypox and the county health department has “very limited doses,” so officials are reserving them for vulnerable populations that include hotel housekeepers, as well as men in same-sex sexual relationships, who represent the majority of cases in Broward and Miami Dade counties, which have reported 77 and 21 cases, respectively.

Health department officials recommend calling the department at 305-293-7500 with any questions and are distributing the below information about monkeypox:

MONKEYPOX: GET THE FACTS

• Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus. • Monkeypox can make you sick including a rash or sores (pox), often with an earlier flu-like illness. • Monkeypox can spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact including: Direct contact with monkeypox rash, sores or scabs; contact with objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox; through respiratory droplets or oral fluids from a person with monkeypox such as during intimate sexual activity, including oral, anal, and vaginal sex or touching the genitals or anus of a person with monkeypox; hugging, massage, or kissing and talking closely; touching fabrics and objects during sex that were used by a person with monkeypox, such as bedding, towels and sex toys. • We know the virus can be spread in fluid or pus from monkeypox sores, and are trying to better understand whether the virus could be present in semen, vaginal fluids or other body fluids.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

• Early flu-like symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, a rash or sores, sometimes located on or near the genitals or anus, but sometimes in other areas like the hands, feet, chest or face – sores will go through several stages before healing. • Sores may be inside the body, including the mouth, vagina or anus • Some people experience a rash or sores first, followed by other symptoms and some only experience a rash or sores • Monkeypox can be spread from the time symptoms start until all sores have healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed – this can take several weeks

IF YOU HAVE A NEW OR UNEXPLAINED RASH, SORES OR OTHER SYMPTOMS

• See your health care provider – if you don’t have a provider or health insurance, visit a public health clinic near you. • When you see a health care provider for possible monkeypox, remind them that this virus is circulating in the community. • Avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until you have been checked out. • Follow the treatment and prevention recommendations of your health care provider. • Avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until all your sores have healed and you have a fresh layer of skin formed.