Overview
- Amber cold-health alerts cover north-east and north-west England from 8pm on Sunday 28 December until midday on Monday 5 January, with yellow alerts in place elsewhere in England.
- UKHSA says sustained low temperatures are likely to drive higher demand for care and could lead to more deaths, especially among people aged 65 and over and those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
- The Met Office expects sub-zero nights with frost and fog creating tricky travel conditions, with temperatures near -1C in Penrith, around 0C in parts of the Lake District, and -6C to -7C in northern Scotland.
- Temperatures inside hospitals, care homes and clinics may fall below the recommended 18C, heightening risk for vulnerable groups including younger vulnerable people and those sleeping rough.
- UKHSA also warns of staff shortages from travel delays and potential strain on transport and energy networks, and Dr Agostinho Sousa urges people to check on relatives, friends and neighbours at risk.