Japan's cumulative total of COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic exceeded 60,000 on Sunday, a tally showed, in the midst of the eighth wave of coronavirus infections.

Compared with the total topping 50,000 on Dec. 1, Sunday's figure highlights the increased pace of deaths at 10,000 in just around a month.

After the number since Japan confirmed its first domestic case of COVID-19 in January 2020 eclipsed the 20,000 mark last February, 10,000 deaths were reported every three months until December, according to the Kyodo News tally.

Japan posted a record of 498 daily COVID-19 deaths on Thursday.

By age group and sex, men in their 80s accounted for most of the deaths, followed by those in their 70s and those over 90, according to health ministry data. As for women, those aged in their 80s and those over 90 are notably high.

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