The national curve is heading in an "upward direction" after new outbreaks of COVID-19 cases across the country, according to Canada's top doctor. 

Dr. Theresa Tam described the "uptick" as "worrisome" during a press conference on Tuesday.

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“This is a worrisome sign,” Tam said. “But the fate of the flattening of the curve is still within each of our hands.”

The Chief Public Health Officer also revealed that the number of COVID-19 cases reported in Canada has increased to a daily average of 496 from an average of 487 last week.

“As I have said, the upward trend, this indicator of COVID-19 activity, is something that we must keep a very close eye on,” she continued. 

“Local public health authorities are doing their best to rapidly find cases and trace contacts to prevent further spread and investigate where transmission is occurring.”

In similarly concerning news, in recent weeks 60 per cent of COVID-19 cases were Canadians aged 20 to 39 .

"I must urge all Canadians, particularly younger adults, to not give in to COVID-19 fatigue," Tam said at a press conference last week.

"Younger age groups are not invincible against COVID-19," she added.