While many in Reading were glad to see the back of 2020, they realised the New Year would probably bring another national lockdown.

That's why few were surprised when Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the indefinite lockdown on the evening of January 4 and confirmed that all schools would be closed.

Like many other parts of the country, Reading had seen a dramatic surge in Covid-19 cases in December, which is believed to have been driven by a new strain of the virus.

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When the second national lockdown was lifted on December 2, Reading's seven-day infection rate stood at 151.4 cases per 100,000.

By January 4, it had reached 723.8 cases per 100,000 people, and almost one in five tests (18 per cent) were coming back positive.

Two days later, it was revealed that the number Covid-19 patients at Royal Berkshire Hospital had passed 200 for the first time in the pandemic and staff had created additional capacity in the intensive care unit.

It came after hospital bosses were forced to cancel non-urgent procedures, such as hip and knee replacements, to focus on Covid patients and the other winter pressures.

Has the lockdown had any impact in Reading?

The latest Public Health England figures show 64 people have died in Reading after testing positive for the virus, since January 4.

That is more than double the number of deaths (28) recorded in the previous month (December 3 to January 3).

The figures also show that in January, 4,165 people tested positive in Reading – that is the highest number of cases recorded in a single month.

But since the infection rate peaked at 812.2 cases per 100,000 on January 8, it has been falling steadily and now stands at 370.9.

That is because the number of new cases has dropped slightly each week.

This suggests the lockdown is working, but Reading’s infection rate is still well above the national average (242.8 cases per 100,000).

The positivity rate has also dropped in Reading, as around one in seven (14.4 per cent) of tests are coming back positive, but the Royal Berkshire Hospital is still under considerable pressure.

On January 4, there were 185 Covid-19 patients at the hospital. That number rose steadily until it peaked at 264 on January 19.

However, it then dropped over the following two weeks and the latest Public Health England figures show there were 201 Covid-19 patients at the hospital on February 2.

Nicky Lloyd, acting chief executive, insists the situation is under control and she is urging patients to attend appointments at the hospital.

Speaking in January, she said: “We’ve learned a lot from the first wave of Covid and this has helped us to carry on treating other very seriously ill people and keep services going.

"It’s still really important that, if you have an appointment, you come in, because we want to see you.

"We have very strict infection control policies in place including deep cleans of clinical areas between patients, many hand sanitizer stations, one way systems, socially distanced waiting rooms and we actively promote the ‘hands, face, space’ guidance.

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"A concern we do have is the number of patients not attending their scheduled appointments which has the potential for serious consequences if diagnosis or ongoing treatment is delayed.

“I want to encourage you to come if you have been asked to attend an appointment or you urgently need care, it’s vital that we see you in a timely way and ensure your condition is treated or monitored.

"We are a National Health Service and open for multiple diseases and conditions. You will not be a burden and we want you to be seen.”

The Prime Minister has promised to set out the plan for lifting the lockdown in the week beginning February 22.

He has also said the government is aiming to reopen schools on March 8 at the earliest.