A WATERFORD woman who lost her husband to Covid in January of this year says the public needs to continue with mask wearing, hand-washing and observing social distancing; it's not just about vaccinations.

Jeni Pim, who lost her husband Nigel at the age of just 51 nine months ago, recalled the distressing experience of seeing her husband on a ventilator - and said she doesn't want anyone else to go through something similar.

On this morning's Deise Today, Jeni Pim spoke on air to Damien Tiernan - as well as one of her own Covid 'heroes' - Prof. Luke O'Neill, Prof of Biochemistry at TCD, who was on the show to talk about his new book 'Keep Calm and Trust the Science'.

In a moving piece, Jeni thanked Luke O'Neill directly for all her has done, in terms of speaking about the science behind Covid "so calmly and yet so cheerfully always", saying both herself and Nigel had been 'big fans' of the professor from the start of the pandemic.

"I've a science background myself and I think there so much misinformation (out there)," she said. "Whatever you said, you said with a smile and although Nigel unfortunately died after great care in Waterford (hospital), I still listened (to your podcasts) and still do," Jeni Pim told the professor.

Jeni Pim said although many people are vaccinated now, people still need to keep up with the mask wearing as well as washing hands and maintaining social distancing and she was 'reaching out' to the public about this.

"Nigel always said 'if you have a good message, say it. You never know who you might reach," said Jeni.

Prof Luke O'Neill, meanwhile, also paid tribute to Jeni for her 'courage and bravery' in speaking out, saying her direct experience and words to others were as powerful as his words as a scientist.