S Korea reports record daily virus death toll of 40

The South Korean government on Tuesday recorded 40 coronavirus related deaths, the country's biggest daily death toll since the pandemic began.

South Korea also logged 1,046 new cases of infections, taking the total caseload to 58,725 with 859 deaths.

Previous daily records were 24 deaths reported both on Dec. 21 and Dec. 22.

Soaring fatalities reflect an increase of cases at nursing homes and other medical facilities where elderly people with underlying diseases stay.

Officials say 28 of the newly reported 40 deaths happened at such facilities.

The government has recently faced domestic criticism that it has been too slow in working out vaccine procurement plans.

Officials said Tuesday it will have vaccine doses for 56 million people, seemingly enough for the country's 51 million people.

They plan to begin inoculating the South Korean public in February.