YANGON, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Omicron cases of COVID-19 have risen to 76 after 10 new cases were reported on Saturday in Myanmar, according to a statement of the Ministry of Health.

The Omicron variant was detected in eight people from India including five Myanmar nationals and three foreigners who recently arrived in Myanmar, the statement said.

It said the mutant strain was also found in two family members who had close contact with previously confirmed case.

According to the ministry's figures on Saturday, the number of COVID-19 infections has risen to 533,021 after 170 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours.

With two new deaths, the death toll has increased to 19,301 while the number of recoveries has reached 511,094 on Saturday in Myanmar.