Tasmanian health authorities say it is too early to tell whether the state's COVID wave has peaked, even as daily case figures continue to trend down.
Tasmania has recorded 619 new cases of COVID-19, down slightly from yesterday's 625.
The Department of Health says 41 patients with COVID are in hospital, including three in intensive care.
Seventeen patients are being treated specifically for COVID-19 symptoms, one more than yesterday.
Of the new cases, 170 were identified through a PCR test and 449 from a rapid antigen test.
Public Health deputy director Scott McKeown told the ABC the downward trend in daily figures was encouraging.
"But I think it's too early to say whether we've peaked or not," he said.
"We do know that there is always the possibility of other waves of infection as well, either with the same variant [or others]."
Dr McKeown said if anything, the return to school could see numbers jump again.
"We do need to be prepared for more increases in transmission as more people return to mixing and moving by going to work and schools potentially returning as well."
Death of 36yo woman to be investigated
In a statement on Monday, Tasmania's state health commander Kathrine Morgan-Wicks, said the death of a 36-year-old woman in the north-west at the weekend had been referred to the coroner.
Given the circumstances surrounding her death, the matter has been referred to the coroner for determination.
"On behalf of the Department of Health and the Tasmanian Health Service, I extend my condolences to the woman's family and loved ones."
'Number of factors' led to spike of 2,000 cases
Dr McKeown said the change in testing rules to accept rapid antigen results as a diagnosis as well as socialising over the festive season likely contributed to the January 8 spike of more than 2,000 COVID cases.
"I think a number of factors created that large count on a particular day," he said.
"I think in reality that levelled out over a couple of days in what it was representing in the community."
But importantly, hospitalisations remain fairly level and the health system is coping, he said.
Nancy Baxter from the University of Melbourne's School of Population and Global Health said the actual infection rate in Tasmania was probably double the reported rate.
"It is almost certainly higher," she said.
"The testing system was overwhelmed in Tasmania.
"The long lines deterred people from getting PCR tested and they couldn't get a RAT so I would think … it would be more than twice [the official rate]."
