The Department of Health (DOH) disclosed on Friday that 16 new cases of the Delta variant of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) have been detected in the Philippines, with one of those infected dying last June 28.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said 11 of the 16 new cases of the Delta variant were reported in the following regions: six in Northern Mindanao, two in the National Capital Region and two in Central Luzon.

The World Health Organization (WHO) earlier said the Delta variant is causing a new surge in Covid-19 cases globally, as it is more infectious than the first variant of the virus.

WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus earlier said the Delta variant is present in more than 100 countries globally.

Besides the Delta variant, Tedros blamed the unequal distribution and vaccine nationalism as contributing to the new rise in Covid-19 cases globally.

“The Delta variant is one of the main drivers of the current increase in transmission, fueled by increased social mixing and mobility, and inconsistent use of proven public health and social measures,” he added.

Meanwhile, lack of access to vaccines leaves most of the world’s population “at the mercy of the virus,” Tedros said, recalling that “many countries still have not received any vaccines, and most have not received enough.”