A Hillsborough County firefighter died this week of complications from the coronavirus, the county announced Friday.
Giovanni Ciancio, 55, was assigned to Station 15 in Palm River and worked for the department for more than 19 years. He caught the virus at work in July and died Thursday evening, county spokesman Chris Wilkerson said.
A county news release described Ciancio as a “courageous and honorable firefighter” who worked as a driver and engineer in the department. He was born in Italy and moved to the U.S. in his 20s.
County officials did not know whether Ciancio had been vaccinated, Wilkerson said. The county is not tracking the vaccination status of individual employees. Last month, county leaders began offering $500 and extra days off to employees who got the shot.
• • •
Tampa Bay Times coronavirus coverage
DELTA VARIANT: The contagious variant has changed what we know about staying safe from COVID-19. Here's what you need to know.
KIDS AND COVID: Kids are back in school, but COVID-19 is still a problem. Here's what parents and kids need to know.
SENIORS AND COVID: Here’s how seniors can stay safe from the virus.
IT'S FLU SEASON: Get a flu shot and the COVID vaccine to avoid a ‘twindemic.’
VACCINES Q&A: Have coronavirus vaccine questions? We have answers, Florida.
GET THE DAYSTARTER MORNING UPDATE: Sign up to receive the most up-to-date information.
A TRIBUTE TO FLORIDIANS TAKEN BY THE CORONAVIRUS: They were parents and retirees, police officer and doctors, imperfect but loved deeply.
HAVE A TIP?: Send us confidential news tips.
We’re working hard to bring you the latest news on the coronavirus in Florida. This effort takes a lot of resources to gather and update. If you haven’t already subscribed, please consider buying a print or digital subscription.