ROME, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The coronavirus epidemic claimed 368 lives in locked down Italy on Sunday, according to new data released by the Civil Protection Department.

Speaking at a nightly televised press conference, Civil Protection Department chief Angelo Borrelli confirmed that 24,747 people have tested positive for the coronavirus and 1,809 have died since the epidemic first broke out in northern Italy on Feb. 21.

The numbers are up from an official tally on Saturday evening of 17,750 people infected, 1,441 dead, and 1,966 recovered.

Meanwhile, a total of 2,335 patients have recovered, said Borrelli, who is also the national commissioner in charge of the coronavirus emergency.