A warning was issued to Bracknell residents at the start of the month after young people were to blame for the 'stark rise' in coronavirus infections.

Before schools closed for the Christmas break, a string of coronavirus outbreaks contributed to the steep rise in the borough’s coronavirus case rate.

READ MORE: Steady increase in coronavirus rates across Bracknell

Since the second national lockdown ended on December 2, Bracknell Forest’s coronavirus case rate has risen from 87.3 to 159.1 per 100,000 over the past seven days, according to the latest available date from the government.

As such, the government is planning to "stagger" the reopening of schools after Christmas to curb the spread of coronavirus infections among young people.

But one Government health advisor is calling for schools to remain shut instead.

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Professor Neil Ferguson, a member of the Government's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) told BBC Radio 4's World At One programme: "Clearly nobody wants to keep schools shut. But if that's the only alternative to having exponentially growing numbers of hospitalisations, that may be required at least for a period."

We asked News readers whether they think schools should shut or reopen in January and the majority think the same as the professor.

Here is what you said.

Linda Doyle thinks schools should close until the most vulnerable in society are vaccinated against Covid-19.

Viv Earley echoed this view and said: "Closed. We need a circuit breaker to get the infection rate down and the vaccine rolled out. We have to stop the infection rate as it goes without saying this is translating into hospital admissions and deaths and those deaths are not just in the over 80s."

Gailiana Richardo added: "Closed and use that time to get vaccinations done."

Kim James-Edwards thinks "Health is more important children will catch up."

Some readers think the opposite and that students have missed out on education enough.

Corrinne Packham said: "Nope should be open!!! The collateral damage being done to our children is disgusting! They should be in school learning.. with a routine, with there friends running round carefree."

Andrew Milnthorpe echoed this and said: "Open definitely, due to the effect that closure would have on mental health and on parents I know who gave up on work near the end of the last closure because it was such a battle."

Vikki Freeland also said: "They need to be open, for the children’s sake."

The Government said it is "still planning for a staggered opening of schools" after Christmas but is keeping the plan under constant review.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's official spokesman told a Westminster briefing: "We're still planning for a staggered opening of schools and we are working to ensure testing is in place.

"As we have said throughout the pandemic, we obviously keep all measures under constant review."