Could a second wave be worse than the first one?
If there is a second coronavirus wave, the severity of the outbreak would depend on multiple factors, like how well people maintain social distancing and how many people wear face masks.
The widespread availability of tests might also play a role, in addition to contract tracing for anyone who tests positive. The more measures there are in place to help reduce disease transmission -- and the more effectively those measures are followed -- the lower the infection rate may be the second time around.
Other factors that could come into play are any potential genetic mutations in the coronavirus that could make it more or less transmissible, if those came to be, the development of an effective vaccine, the development of safe, effective treatments for the COVID-19 disease and the ability to test a large number of the population, even people who don't appear to be sick.
What would a second wave look like?
Past pandemics have shown that multiple waves of infection are likely and tend to be more severe. Despite warnings from health experts and economists about against easing restrictions too soon — not only to protect lives but also the economy — there is growing opposition against the social distancing measures.
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