President Joe Biden formally announced Tuesday he will lift a ban this week on travel from South Africa and other countries in the region, imposed due to fear of the Omicron Covid-19 variant.

“The travel restrictions… are no longer necessary to protect the public health” and will end on Friday, Biden said in a proclamation.

The White House had already said it would end the restrictions but Biden’s proclamation makes the decision effective at 12:01 am in Washington on Friday