New Delhi, Apr 28 (IANS): The Congress has initiated a process of distributing PPE kits to mediapersons who are on field reporting the Covid-19 outbreak to prevent the spread of the disease among the media fraternity.

The distribution of PPE kits started on Tuesday and will continue on Wednesday. The party will distribute 200 kits among the mediapersons, of which 50 were handed over on Tuesday. The PPE kits have been procured from the Khadi Gram Udyog.

All-India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary Devendra Yadav, who is also party in-charge for Rajasthan, has volunteered to provide the PPE kits.

"After many journalists tested positive in Mumbai, I thought that mediapersons are creating awareness and risking their lives for the people. So we decided to distribute the kits so that they stay safe and protected," Yadav told IANS.

He said mediapersons are corona warriors, so "we are duty bound to support them".

The kit comprises the full gadget, including eye protection gear and boot cover.

The Congress leader said that in his area in outer Delhi, he has approached the medical superintendent of the Jagajivan Ram Hospital, where 54 staff have tested positive, to provide the PPE kits.

The total number of Covid-19 cases in the country mounted to 29,974 on Tuesday evening, with 1,594 cases and 51 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said.

Of the total cases, 22,010 are active cases, 7,026 people have recovered, while 937 people have succumbed to the disease.

Maharashtra remained the worst-hit state with the total number of cases rising to 8,590, followed by Gujarat which reported 3,548 cases and Delhi which has reported 3,108 cases so far, according to the Health Ministry data.