Daily US Times: The chief of staff to President Trump has conceded that the US is “not going to control the (coronavirus) pandemic.”
Instead, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said coronavirus could only be defeated by “mitigation areas” like therapeutics and vaccines.
His remarks come as Covid-19 infections surge in the US, nine days before the country’s presidential election.
Vice-President Mike Pence has continued to campaign despite positive tests on his team.
On Sunday, Mr Pence and his wife both tested negative, his office said.
Mr Meadows said while speaking with CNN that control of the virus was not a realistic goal because “it is a contagious virus just like the flu”.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said in a statement responding to the interview that the White House was waving “the white flag of defeat”.
Mr Biden added that Mr Meadows’ comments showed the Trump administration had “given up on their basic duty to protect the American people”.
Some 225,000 Americans have died since the coronavirus pandemic began, the highest figure of any country.
President Donald Trump repeated his claim on Sunday while addressing supporters in New Hampshire, that the US was turning a corner with the pandemic, despite recording record numbers of infections and rising hospital admissions.
The president told supporters: “We’re coming around, we’re rounding the turn, we have the vaccines, we have everything. Even without the vaccines, we’re rounding the turn.”
Many of his supporters present in the rally were not wearing face masks or observing social distancing.
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