So how long should we wait before we reopen the economy? According to an April 17 poll by Student Loan Planner, 27% of dentists say we should wait “as long as it takes,” compared to 22% of chiropractors, 33% of optometrists, 34% of physician assistants, 52% of physicians, and 60% of nurse practitioners.
Also, 5% of the 376 dentists polled said the shutdown should end immediately, 64% said the economy should reopen in less than two months, and 1% said it should remain shut down until the end of the year.
And despite both professions having significant exposure to COVID-19, dentists favor reopening the economy much faster than physicians, most likely because 56% of those dentists polled said their income disappeared completely, Student Loan Planner said. Meanwhile, 25% of dentists said their income has fallen, and 19% said their income is unchanged.
Overall, Student Loan Planner said, Americans’ views on when the economy should reopen are tied to their own profession and job status. For example, 44% of those who have lost their income are more likely to favor reopening the economy in less than two months compared to those who have not experienced income change.
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