TORONTO -- The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ontario has shot back up to the highest level since late June.

The 203 new infections announced Tuesday morning brings the province's total of lab-confirmed cases to 37,942 – a 0.5 per cent increase over Monday's total when 135 cases were added.

Health Minister Christine Elliott called the increase "concerning" in a tweet published on Tuesday morning.

Of the 203 new cases reported, Elliott says that 116 are in people 39 years of age or younger, a trend that has continued every day for the past week.

"Ontarians of all ages need to continue to adhere to public health guidelines," Elliott said. "Maintain only one social circle of 10 people, physically distance with anyone outside of it and wear a face covering when doing so is a challenge."

On Monday, Premier Doug Ford said that the growing number of COVID-19 cases in younger people is "shocking" and warned that while they may feel invincible "it's going to be a different story for your parents and your relatives."

READ MORE: Ontario premier's grim warning to young people who feel 'invincible' to COVID-19

Also, for the fifth straight day, active COVID-19 cases have outpaced recoveries, with 92 resolved cases added in the last 24-hour period. 

The province also recorded one more virus-related death in its latest report. A total of 2,753 people in Ontario have died as a result of the novel coronavirus. 

As well, hospitalizations for the virus have increased since Monday. There are 120 patients in Ontario hospitals with COVID-19, up from the 115 reported one day prior.

Of those 120 patients, 36 are being treated in an intensive care unit, 23 of which are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator. 

Where are the new COVID-19 cases?

Elliott says that today's "uptick" is the result of "localized increases" across Ontario.

Most of the new cases were reported in Toronto, Peel Region and Windsor-Essex, all of which have been held back from entering Stage 3 of the province’s reopening plans. 

However, at a news conference on Tuesday, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie announced that there was a delay in case reporting in Peel Region. Due to a backlog, of the region's 57 cases reported on Tuesday, Crombie says that only 22 occured in the last 24-hour period.

Additionally, at least 43 cases were reported in Ottawa, a region that moved into Stage 3 last Friday. 

Of the province’s 34 public health units, 29 reported fewer than five new cases with several units recording no new cases at all. 

Testing for COVID-19 across Ontario remains high with nearly 23,000 tests completed since yesterday.

To date, more than 1.9 million tests have been conducted since the start of the pandemic. Close to 12,000 tests remain under investigation, according to the ministry of health.