'We're not going to get control of the pandemic': White House chief of staff says focus is on vaccines and therapeutics

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has suggested that the Trump administration has all but given up on limiting the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, instead focusing on producing a viable vaccine and upgrading treatment for people who have tested positive and are experiencing symptoms.

“We’re not going to control the pandemic,” Mr Meadows said in an interview with CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday.

“We are going to control the fact that we get vaccines, therapeutics, and other mitigation,” he said.

Asked by CNN’s Jake Tapper why the US can’t take steps to reduce the number of cases, Mr Meadows pointed to the virus’ super-spreading nature.

“It’s a contagious virus just like the flu,” the chief of staff said.