NHS urges 'keep windows and doors shut' as alert issued April 8-12 for millions

NHS urges 'keep windows and doors shut' as alert issued April 8-12 for millionsUK households urged to take action for the next few daysCommentsNewsCharlotte Smith Senior Lifestyle Content Editor09:52, 08 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesAnyone who suffers advised to keep doors and windows(Image: Getty)A health alert has been issued across many parts of the UK for the next five days as the weather is set to change. According to the latest NHS guidance, people are advised to "keep windows and doors shut as much as possible" to help.‌It comes as the Met Office has issued a fresh alert about the pollen count, which is set to reach 'Very High' levels this week. In a new post on X, it said: "Have you been sneezing a lot today? You may have been suffering with hay fever. It's the peak of the tree pollen season and levels of ash and birch pollen will remain very high across England and Wales through the rest of the week."‌Today, Wednesday, April 8, the pollen count is forecast to hit the highest level across England and Wales. It is set to remain high for much of Scotland, too. Between now and Sunday, April 12, levels are expected to remain mostly high for several regions.‌The Met Office forecasts temperatures as high as 26C today, before conditions turn markedly cooler later in the week. A spokesperson said: "Fine and sunny weather will dominate for many over the next couple of days as warm air is drawn northwards across the UK."Highs in the low to mid-20s are expected widely across England and Wales today, with the warmest conditions often found in sheltered areas, including parts of northwest Wales, where 24C or even 25C is possible."Content cannot be displayed without consent‌With warm weather and high pollen levels, hay fever risk is rising for millions of people across the country. According to the Met Office, hay fever affects almost 10 million people in England, of all ages. "This equates to almost one in four adu...