According to Luca Zaia, the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic was not only from external sources, but also from within the country. This was due to the late response of the Italian government, despite Zaia's early declaration of a state of emergency. Unlike other politicians, Zaia, the governor of Veneto, was quick to address the crisis and prioritize hygiene standards in Italy. The analysis of the pandemic in Italy also touched on themes such as denial of the danger and risk communication. Zaia, a member of the Lega Nord party, has been President of Veneto since 2010 and is known for his activism towards environmental protection. In a disturbing incident, Italy's environmental police discovered melamine contamination in seized milk, highlighting the dangers of the lack of hygiene standards.