Dear Mentsch,
Who’s thinking is that? Second waves, are usually thought of as being worse. Because they start from multiple sources, instead of one. Which leads to a higher caseload, and a greater assortment of (miniscule) genetic variances. Also, it typically requires a much larger or longer effort to contain subsequent waves. See China and Israel and Europe. Without a shift in strategy, this wave could linger into January.
The bright side is, even if only some people take precautions it could help a lot to mitigate communal spread. Which leads to better outcomes. There is way more public knowledge about the virus. Including doctors and medics. And there are three medication known to combat Covid. Plus a dozen more possible ones. And we may be closer to a vaccine.