The Tasmanian government has extended the public health emergency period for another eight weeks but has said it may end the emergency declaration earlier if the number of COVID-19 cases in the Australian state drops. Mark Veitch, the director of public health for Tasmania, announced on April 5 that the Public Health Emergency Declaration was renewed under the Public Health Act. However, the renewal lasts only eight weeks, much shorter than a usual 12-week extension. This is the first time the Tasmania government has taken this approach since the initial emergency declaration in March 2020. “Our high vaccination rates have significantly reduced the risk of severe outcomes of COVID-19, particularly among those at higher risk of hospitalisation, admission to intensive care, and death,” Veitch said in a statement. He also said that the number of hospitalisations in the state was low despite Tasmania currently having a high COVID-19 infection rate …