Even before the first phase of scary sensationalism about the COVID-19 pandemic has run its course, scientists are warning about the second wave of inflated death statistics.

The second wave of fearmongering could be worse than the first, turning tens of thousands of people into neighborhood “quarantine Karens,” a spokesman for the CDC, Gary Phlimsybottom said.

Questions remain:

Are people who’ve had COVID-19 immune to the fearmongering? How long can people keep CNN off of their televisions? Will people realize that the flu is just as bad and turn into hermits afraid to go outside?

The CDC reiterated the need for a vaccine.

“Until there’s a 30 percent-effective vaccine developed by a guy who thinks vaccines will help depopulate the world, it’s unfortunately likely that we will see a second wave or even a third wave,” Phlimsybottom said. He spoke on a call with reporters about vaccine development organized by the Commonwealth Fund. 

“I shudder to think of that, but I think we have to be realistic when we’re sensationalizing epidemics,” Phlimsybottom added.

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