Tasmania has suffered its second COVID-related death since the borders reopened in December.
Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the person, who was admitted to the Mersey Community Hospital on Thursday, "did have a range of medical conditions" and was "extremely unwell" when hospitalised.
"My understanding is that the person was not vaccinated," he said.
Yesterday, the state recorded its first COVID-related death since the reopening.
The state recorded 31 COVID-19 hospitalisations and 726 new cases.
Two patients are in ICU as the state's total of active cases reached 5,746.
Of the total cases, 251 were identified through a rapid antigen test, and 475 through a PCR swab.
In the past 24 hours, 964 patients have been released from quarantine.
Meanwhile, the state's north is grappling with an outbreak at the Mersey Community Hospital as nine patients and two staff members tested positive to the virus.
Mr Gutwein yesterday said tracing the source of the outbreak was still continuing, but the first detected case was in a patient in a ward at the hospital.
One of the cases has been transferred to intensive care at Launceston General Hospital.
The state government says it has put in place a plan that allows students to return to school safely.
"We have RATs, we have PPE on supply. We're well resourced in that particular matter, well resourced in terms of hand hygiene as well," Mr Rockliff said.
The government has now confirmed Education Minister Sarah Courtney is overseas.
She will be back at work two days before students return to classrooms on February 9.
Opposition education spokesman Josh Willie said Premier Peter Gutwein should call her back.
"I find it absolutely perplexing that the Minister for Education is overseas on a holiday when our school staff are trying to prepare for the most unsettling start to the school year in living memory," Mr Willie said.
"We need to have an Education Minister at this critically important time being available to make decisions and implement a schools plan so that Tasmanian children can continue their education."
