Vice President Mike Pence (above) forged ahead with campaigning on Sunday despite a Covid-19 outbreak among his aides and President Donald Trump claimed progress as the United States set records for daily infections, prompting Democratic challenger Joe Biden to accuse Trump of surrendering to the pandemic.

With eight days to go before the Nov 3 election in which Biden is facing the Republican president, the White House cited Pence’s status as an “essential worker” as justification for his campaign travel, despite exposure to his chief of staff Marc Short, who tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday...