The ACT has recorded 896 cases of COVID-19 with no deaths in the latest reporting period.

Across the national capital, 98.6 per cent of people aged 12 and over have received two doses of the vaccine.

And the vaccination rate of those aged between five and 11 has lifted to 54.5 per cent, just days before school returns.

There are 67 patients with COVID-19 in ACT hospitals, including five in intensive care and one ventilated.

The numbers come as crowds attend Australia Day ceremonies and events and the annual Invasion Day rally in Canberra and around the nation today, 26 January.

Public holiday gatherings have prompted a warning from a leading health expert of the potential spread of the Omicron COVID-19 strain as large crowds gather for protest or celebration. 

Chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and former health department head Jane Halton says the closer people pack together, the more likely the virus will spread. 

“We know it’s highly infectious and the closer everyone gets together, the more the likelihood you’ll be close to someone whose got COVID and therefore the greater the likelihood you’ll contract it,” she told the Nine Network on Wednesday.

“People should be careful. What we don’t want to see is a big increase in cases.”

Professor Halton said case numbers were coming down and it appeared as if Australia has come off the peak of the outbreak, but this could be jeopardised by large gatherings on the public holiday.

“We don’t want another peak courtesy of Australia Day when we should all be being very happy about Australia and eating those lamingtons,” she said.

But she stopped short of suggesting events should be cancelled, instead encouraging people to wear masks, maintain social distance and remain cautious. 

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