ONE key difference between the upcoming lockdown and the previous one is an issue that has divided Reading: the decision to keep schools open.

Back in the original March lockdown, schools were closed for months - along with offices, non-essential shops and other organisations.

READ MORE: Reading sees resurgence of panic buying since second lockdown announcement

This time though, schools have been told to remain open while other lockdown measures are in place.

In a question put to Chronicle readers, the many responses show a division in opinion.

A Facebook post asked: "Do you think schools should be closed during the second lockdown?"

Helen Anderson replied: "With teachers still having to go into school with hundreds of children they're putting themselves and their families at risk... so yes."

Richard Yeatman responded: "I'm not sure the data and evidence of lockdown effectiveness really warrants shutting down all the school system to be honest.

"Although the infection curve has risen, the mortality rate has only climbed very steadily and overall mortality for this time of year is still fairly ordinary.

"The main problem is the hospitals getting over burdened at this point, but that feels like a case by case assessment rather than a complete panic of shutting our schools down."

Reading Chronicle:

Meanwhile Chloe Fox said: "Personally, no.... the cases in school are so very low, since my daughter returned to school in September there has been ONE positive case in eight weeks.

"If the children didn't go to school I can't work, if I can't work being self employed I don't earn, if I don't earn we don't eat!

"Also my daughter fell so behind in the first lockdown it makes a huge impact on them.

"Obviously- if over the next few weeks cases don't reduce etc ... then maybe BORIS needs to shut everything down and not be so confusing about what's essential or not!"

Local teacher Louise Davis Smith could see both sides of the argument.

She replied: "Yes. As a teacher, but also as a parent to two children, one doing GCSEs next summer, one taking A levels, I don't make this decision lightly.

"Given that the science seems to show rates in secondary age children and above are the age group growing most rapidly, I think a short break would be beneficial, like in both Northern Ireland and Wales.

"The government's absolute refusal to even consider it baffles me, but probably has something to do with there being no plan B for exams next year.

"I understand the mental health issues, and gaps in learning, which is why an extended half term would have made more sense.

"You also need to consider the health and well being of all school staff, who are put in daily contact with hundreds of people, with little or no PPE/social distancing."

Reading Chronicle:

National reaction

Thousands of teachers and support staff have called for school closures.

Andrew Hayward, professor of infectious diseases epidemiology at University College London and a member of the government's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), said it is clear there is "substantial transmission" within secondary schools.

The medical warning comes as more than 150,000 teachers and support staff have backed the National Education Union's (NEU) campaign to close schools and colleges as part of England's lockdown.

Schools are an "engine for virus transmission", the largest teaching union in Britain has warned.

Prof Hayward told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think it's clear that there is substantial transmission within secondary schools.

"And we are of course needing to prioritise education and we know that children who are infected in schools are very unlikely to have severe consequences.

"But I think one of the consequences of not closing secondary schools would be that we may need to be in lockdown for longer than we might otherwise have to be."

On Saturday, the NEU launched a campaign calling for the government to close schools and colleges with the introduction of new national restrictions.

In less than 48 hours, more than 150,000 teachers and support staff have voiced their support and over 20,000 have written to their MP and lobbied them on social media, according to the NEU.

READ MORE: The TWO Reading areas with the lowest numbers of coronavirus cases

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: "The response to our call this weekend for school closures shows that our concern is widely shared.

"The Government is failing our communities as well as our schools and colleges and that is why we are seeking an amendment to Parliament's lockdown bill.

"We have seen a fifty-fold increase in infections in secondary schools alone since September. Schools, clearly, are an engine for virus transmission."

The teaching union is also calling for rotas to be introduced in secondary schools and sixth form colleges at the end of the lockdown period.