NEW YORK — CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said this week wearing a mask is an everyday precaution that people can take to reduce their chances of catching or spreading a respiratory virus.

Flu and respiratory syncytial virus are circulating at high levels at the same time COVID is picking up, straining hospital emergency departments.

Walensky said she isstrongly encouraging everyone who is eligible to receive their COVID booster and flu shot.

She added wearing a mask is one of several everyday precautions that people can take to reduce their chances of catching or spreading a respiratory virus during the busy holiday season.

“We encourage you to wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses,” said Walensky, adding that people living in areas with high levels of covid transmission should especially consider masking.

The CDC director said the agency is considering expanding its system of COVID community levels to take into account other respiratory viruses such as the flu. The system is the basis for when CDC advises the public to wear masks. But Walensky encouraged people to take proactive action.

“One need not wait on CDC action in order to put a mask on,” Walensky said. “We would encourage all of those preventive measures — hand washing, staying home when you’re sick, masking, increased ventilation — during respiratory virus season, but especially in areas of high COVID-19 community levels.”