Temperatures are set to drop as low as -5°. (Image: Canva)
An amber health alert has been issued for the east of England, with the region set to be gripped by freezing temperatures over the next week.
The UK Health Security Agency's warning has a medium likelihood and impact rating, and is in place until Friday, January 9.
It is also believed that the temperatures will have "cause significant impacts across health and social care services", with the following warning issued:
- A rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. We may also see impacts on younger age groups
- A likely increase in demand for health services
- Temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks
- Challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18°C leading to more risk to vulnerable people
- Staffing issues due to external factors (such as travel delays)
- Other sectors starting to observe impacts (such as transport and energy)
Temperatures are expected to drop as low as -5° over the coming week, with highs of just 5°.
Despite the Met Office issuing warnings for snow across other parts of the UK, the east of England is not expected to be blanketed.
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