TORONTO -- The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ontario has dropped slightly after health officials reported a single-day spike on Thursday.

The province added 826 new cases of COVID-19 Friday morning, down from the 841 infections recorded a day earlier.

However, the province continues to log deaths related to COVID-19. In fact, Friday's report marks the third straight day in which nine COVID-19-related deaths have been reported.

At the same time, the province added 733 more cases it now considers to be resolved.

The new data brings Ontario's lab-confirmed COVID-19 case total to 68,353, including 3,080 deaths and 58,799 recoveries. 

Right now, there are 6,474 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. 

Of the new cases logged Friday, the majority are in people between the ages of 20 and 39, with 317 new cases reported in that age group.

In the 40 to 59 age category, there are 222 new cases. Another 132 infections were reported in people 19 years of age and younger.

There are 154 new cases in people above the age of 60.

Where are the new COVID-19 cases?

Most of the new cases reported Friday are in Toronto, Peel Region, Ottawa and York Region.

Those areas have been described as the province’s COVID-19 “hot spots” and all are currently observing a modified set of Stage 2 restrictions that suspend the use of indoor dining, gyms and movie theatres.

Toronto accounts for the lion’s share of the cases with 292 new infections recorded. Peel Region logged another 186 cases, Ottawa added 87 and York Region added 72.

Public health units in Halton, Durham Region, Hamilton and Waterloo are also reporting new case numbers in the double digits.

Meanwhile, several regions are reporting fewer than five new cases of the disease. At least five of the province’s 34 public health units are reporting zero new cases.

There are currently 276 patients in an Ontario hospital with COVID-19.

Of those patients, 78 are being treated in an intensive care unit, 47 of which are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.  

Update on COVID-19 testing

The province processed more the 40,000 COVID-19 tests since yesterday.

So far, Ontario has completed 4.8 million tests for the disease since the beginning of the pandemic.

There are 35,436 tests currently under investigation.