AS THE number of coronavirus cases continue to rise across the county, we asked readers whether they think schools should remain open.

Cases now sit at 25 patients who have tested positive in Berkshire as of 9am Sunday, March 15.

READ MORE: Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue teams searching River Kennet.

The government announced last week a host of actions being taken to help 'delay' Covid-19, but closing schools was not one of them.

This is despite social-distancing being the key message from health bosses to everyone in the UK.

PM Boris Johnson called on the community to distance themselves from others where possible, as many businesses start to tell employees to work from home, and continue to wash hands thoroughly.

READ MORE: Reading Half Marathon organisers promise update on race today amid coronavirus fears.

Various schools in the area have closed for precautionary deep cleans over recent weeks including Willow Bank Infant School in Woodley where a teacher tested positive for coronavirus.

However, the Prime Minister's plans remain business as usual for schools and universities across the country.

We asked our readers of the Reading Chronicle and Bracknell News whether they think schools and colleges should be closed.

In Reading, 498 votes were cast.

67 per cent of voters said 'yes' to closures, 13 per cent said 'no' and 20 per cent said 'not yet'.

In Bracknell, 295 voted were cast.

Similarly, 65 per cent of voters said 'yes' to closures, 14 per cent said 'no' and 20 per cent said 'not yet'.

Despite the poll's results, many of the comments questioned whether closing schools and colleges is the right decision.

One reader said: "Not sure how effective it would be if parents then occupy the children by taking them out into other crowded places like cinemas, play centres etc.

"It won’t be effective as a stand-alone measure."

Another said: "It’s not for us to say.

"The decision should be taken and left to the experts."

It's a "tough call" for one reader who says "parents would have to take time off work and leaving children with already vulnerable grand parents would surely be very risky".