The context may be the UK where it rarely snows (typically <5 snow days per year), but has been snowing/icy over the last few days. In that context it may make sense to avoid the one icy week of the year if you are planning to take up walking when you haven't before.
From his website, OP is in an area with yearly cold snowy winters. I live in an area with similar winters and walking unprepared is no fun at all. I nearly broke my tailbone in a fall once, and I'm healthy and generally careful, but maybe if I had read what OP said, "Definitely walk, but be aware that surprise slick spots are a thing, and you can do something about it," I could have avoided the fall.
