I think it was other news organizations than the ones you listed that were the primary culprits in screaming "it's just the flu"
And then the House tried to remove Trump's travel ban: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/12/house-committee-vot...
You can play politics or you can look at reality.
"The legislation would void all of Trump's executive actions establishing travel restrictions."
page 9 Do you think the coronavirus epidemic is a national emergency? yes, democrats 81%; no, republicans 53%
page 18 Which cable news network do you watch the most? Democrats, 42% CNN, 48% MSNBC; Republicans, 89% Fox News
Trump himself has been downplaying it this whole time. https://www.factcheck.org/2020/03/trumps-statements-about-th...