The State Corrections Department eased its lockdown restrictions for the majority of Pennsylvania’s 47,000 inmates over the weekend, allowing them to leave their cells and resume some of their normal activities.
The prison system last Wednesday ordered the lockdown after 38 staff members fell ill at ten of the 25 corrections facilities. Preliminary test results suggest the culprit was a drug known as K2 and other synthetic marijuana solutions which were infiltrated onto paper mailed to inmates.
Maximum security Inmates are now allowed to resume their normal shower and exercise schedules, and the general prison populations again has access to telephones, email kiosks, and showers.
All inmates still must take their meals in their cells, there will be no in-prison visitations yet, and no non-legal mail.
None of the stricken corrections staff were seriously injured.
