which has become intensely difficult in terms of the south african reaction because here they were transparent, and now they are complaining that they're being banned. so what -- any indication from the white house that they may change that ruling? >> reporter: well, the biden administration has said from day one that they were going to follow the science, and in this case as you hear from dr. fauci, they were saying that they put this travel ban, this controversial travel ban, against south africa and a number of neighboring nations in place because they needed time to study and really figure out the omicron variant. that being said, white house officials have been hinting at the idea that once they sort of get a handle on what's going on that that travel ban will be lifted. it's still an open question, unclear to me as i talked to white house officials, when that travel ban will be lifted. it is also clear, though, that not only is south africa sort of saying that this travel ban is wrong in some ways punishing south africa for finding the variant, you also have heard from the u.n. secretary general as well as the director of the world health organization saying that this is really not the way to deal with it, that travel