ROME, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The coronavirus epidemic continued to claim lives in locked down Italy on Friday, with 250 new deaths, bringing the country's total death toll to 1,266, according to new data released by the Civil Protection Department.

Speaking during a nightly televised press conference, Civil Protection Department chief Angelo Borrelli confirmed that 14,955 people have tested positive for the coronavirus and 1,266 have died since the epidemic first emerged in northern Italy on Feb. 21.

Meanwhile, 1,439 patients have so far recovered, said Borrelli, who is also the national commissioner in charge of the coronavirus emergency.

The numbers are up from an official tally on Thursday evening of 12,839 people infected, 1,016 dead, and 1,258 recovered.