Trump hasn’t been saying “the failing New York Times” lately. Even his most devoted fans must realize the Times is still in business. He’s been relying on his catchall expression “fake news,” but even that seems to be falling flat, with the sudden resurgence in coronavirus cases.
The New York Times explains how epidemiologists estimate the number of unconfirmed Covid-19 cases, to determine a death rate that is perhaps less than 0.5%. At this link. That doesn’t mean, as Trump claims, the virus is “99% harmless,” but at least it’s based on something valid.