Some grim milestones in Thursday’s COVID-19 update from the provincial government.

With 56 new cases of COVID-19 and just 48 recoveries, the province’s active COVID-19 case count is back up over 500 for the first time since June 27. The active case count is now at 503.

The new cases are located in Saskatoon (17), the South East (15), the Far North West (five), Regina (four), the Far North Central (two), the Far North East (two), the North Central (two), the South West (two), the South Central (two), and the North West (one).

There are also two more COVID-19 related deaths being announced, pushing the death toll up to 581.

The seven-day average for daily new cases is now at 51, which is equal to 4.2 cases per 100,000 people.

There are 53 people in hospital with COVID-19, including 11 in ICU.

Another 1,764 tests were processed on Wednesday.

When it comes to new COVID-19 vaccination doses, another 3,861 were issued, including 962 first doses.