LONDONDERRY, N.H. — The coronavirus has reached into the heart of the White House once more, less than a week before Election Day, as it scorches the nation and the president’s top aide says “we're not going to control the pandemic.”

Officials are scoffing at the notion of dialing back in-person campaigning despite positive tests from several aides to Vice President Mike Pence, who leads the White House coronavirus task force.

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows was pressed by CNN to explain why the pandemic cannot be reined and responded, "because it is a contagious virus just like the flu.”