7th inmate has Legionnaires’, but San Quentin returning to normal

Another prisoner at San Quentin State Prison has tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease, bringing the total of confirmed cases to seven, as scores more remain under observation, officials announced Thursday.

[...] services at the prison took another step back toward normality as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said that visiting hours for inmates on death row would resume Thursday and normal showers were expected to be restored for prisoners by Friday.

Visiting hours for inmates in general population were expected to resume by the weekend and the prison’s kitchens should be up and running by next week, said Dana Simas, a spokeswoman for the corrections department.

[...] inmates will continue to be served two cold meals during the day and a hot evening meal.

Doctors first confirmed that a prisoner had fallen ill on Aug. 27 with the potentially deadly bacterial illness, prompting officials to shut off water at the prison, which houses 3,700 inmates and employs 1,800 people.

By Friday, inmates were able to use plumbed toilets and were drinking bottled water, though they were still confined to their housing units and all visiting, activities, and hot meals were suspended while officials worked to manage the situation.