TORONTO -- The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ontario has reached a new high for the second day in a row.

Health officials confirmed 939 new infections Friday morning, smashing the previous record of 797 cases set on Thursday.

Friday's report brings the total number of lab-confirmed cases in the province to 57,681, which represents a 1.7 per cent increase over yesterday's total, the highest day-over-day growth rate reported in months. 

The news comes as the province is expected to impose new public health restrictions on Ontario's COVID-19 hotspots, CTV News Toronto has learned.

The measures, described by sources as "Stage 2 lite," would restrict indoor dining and close gyms for 28 days in Toronto, Peel Region and Ottawa. 

READ MORE: Full list of businesses, services impacted by Ontario's new COVID-19 restrictions

Ontario also reported an increase of five deaths related to COVID-19 over the last 24 hours. The province-wide death toll as a result of the disease now stands at 2,997.

At least 724 other cases are now considered to be resolved by the Ministry of Health. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 49,032 Ontario residents infected with the disease have recovered.

Of the new cases logged Friday, the majority are between the ages of 20 and 39, with 358 new cases reported in that age group.

In the 40 to 59 age category, there are 266 new cases. Another 156 infections were reported in people 19 years of age and younger.

There are 153 new cases in people above the age of 60.

Where are the new COVID-19 cases?

Most of the new cases are in Toronto (336), Peel Region (150) and Ottawa (126).

The City of Hamilton, York and Durham regions, Halton and Niagara are also reporting new infections in the double digits. 

At the same time, several other public health units across Ontario logged fewer than five new cases on Friday.

COVID-19 hospitalizations up by 250 per cent over past three weeks 

According to data provided by the Ontario government, hospitalizations for COVID-19 have gone up by 250 per cent over the past three weeks.

'Intensive care unit occupancy is predicted to exceed the threshold where the health care system can maintain scheduled surgeries and other acute care services, even in best case scenarios," the province said.

"These trends will accelerate if the spread continues into older populations."

There are currently 225 people in an Ontario hospital with COVID-19.

Forty-seven patients are being treated in an ICU, 29 of which are breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.

Update on COVID-19 testing

Nearly 45,000 COVID-19 tests were processed over the last 24-hour period. There are currently 58,173 tests under investigation.

More than 4.3 million tests have been processed in Ontario since the beginning of the pandemic.