I Heard My Parents Talking About A Second Wave Of COVID-19. What Does This Mean?
Published: October 26, 2020 · Last reviewed on this site: 2026-10-30
This answer may be out of date. It was published over 3 years ago. Health guidance changes — check with a doctor or trusted adult.
The question
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I heard my parents talking about a second wave of covid. What does that even mean? Are we going to be in lockdown again?
Signed: TeenHealthFX
The answer
When your parents are talking about “waves” think of it like the motion of waves in the ocean. Waves go up to shore and then go back out. So, when COVID-19 started, it was the first wave coming to shore and during the summer months, the wave started to go back towards the ocean.
As we get into the colder months and are indoors more, other illnesses like the common cold and flu are also increasing in addition to COVID-19 so it is hard to tell. [Experts are unsure whether the country is in an actual second wave of COVID-19. We do know that states are experiencing a higher increase than before of newly diagnosed cases across the country which is why people are concerned.
It’s very difficult to predict the future. Since COVID-19 is still new, experts are constantly learning about the virus and long-term effects. If parts of the country go into “lockdown” again it could be different from the first time depending on where you live.
It is important to keep in mind that there are things you can control to try to stay healthy and safe when out in public:
Keep a safe distance – 6 feet or more.
Wear a mask when you cannot social distance.
Wash your hands often and avoid touching your face.
Stay home when you do not feel good.