> what exactly does this mean?

That our response to the current wave has been tragic.

> Other countries did not have a corona virus wave?

Yes they did. However, we had the opportunity to learn from the tragic things that happened elsewhere and could have done stuff to prevent it/soften the blow but we didn't. The problem is not that we "allowed" another wave to happen, but that we allowed people to die due to a lack of oxygen and ICU beds.