Two aging inmates are suing Texas prison officials, accusing staff of failing to protect them against the new coronavirus.

The lawsuit says inmates in the Wallace Pack Unit, northwest of Houston, face a high risk of severe illness from exposure to the virus, which is quickly spreading across the state. Some of the lawyers representing the men are the same who sued the Department of Criminal Justice in recent years for subjecting them to sweltering temperatures without air conditioning.

The Pack Unit houses prisoners over age 50 or who have pre-existing health conditions. The lawsuit claims agency officials selectively applied guidance from the Center for Disease Control on how to prevent the spread of the virus.

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The suit alleges that the agency has not allowed the inmates access to hand sanitizer, though the CDC has recommended it and some inmates are producing it. It also claims the agency has not done enough to limit gatherings, reduce movement and educate inmates on symptoms, as recommended by health officials.

"Despite the ticking time bomb that COVID-19 represents, (the agency) has failed to implement necessary or even adequate policies and practices at the Pack Unit," they wrote in the suit, filed Monday. "Plaintiffs have been denied proper and equal access to vital preventative measures to avoid the transmission of COVID-19, in violation of federal law and the United States Constitution."

The Department of Criminal Justice said Monday it was still reviewing the litigation.

"The health and well-being of employees and contractors as well as the offenders in our custody is of utmost importance," spokesman Jeremy Desel said in an email, adding that the agency is working closely with state and federal health officials.

“As guidance from the CDC and state health officials evolves so do our practices,” Desel said.

The inmates are seeking access for all Pack Unit inmates to soap, hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies for common areas, and strict enforcement of social distancing.