China’s ruling Communist Party has vowed to crack down on infiltration and analysts expect authorities to quickly silence the dissent in the country.

The statement was released Tuesday night after the largest street demonstrations in decades were staged in several cities by citizens fed up with strict anti-COVID-19 restrictions.

China might roll back severe anti-virus controls in the wake of nation-wide protests, but the country faces daunting hurdles and up to a year of hard work before “zero COVID” can end.

The ruling Communist Party has promised to make restrictions less disruptive and eased some controls this week following protests in Shanghai, Beijing and at least six other major cities.

The protests started on Nov. 25 after a fire in Urumqi in the northwest killed at least 10 people.

The fire quickly became a focus of public anger over the human cost of “zero COVID.”

Chinese protesters accuse the ruling Communist Party of failing to outline a strategic plan away from restrictions that have repeatedly closed businesses and schools and suspended access to neighborhoods.

Families who have been confined at home for up to four months say they lack reliable access to food and medicine. Others struggle to get treatment for other medical problems.

The protests in China are the most widespread show of dissent in the country in decades

The ruling party legal affairs committee vowed to “resolutely crack down on the infiltration and sabotage activities of hostile forces.”

It was a reminder of the ruling party’s determination to enforce its will and of its hostility to opposition.

There has been a massive show of force by the internal security services.

Forces have conducted random I-D checks and searched mobile phones for evidence of participation in demonstrations.

But, government officials say “zero COVID” protocols are likely to stay in place until mid-2023 and possibly as late as 2024.

A vaccination campaign for the elderly will require months and China also needs to build up its hospitals and work out a long-term virus strategy, health experts and economists warn.

The National Health Commission said its campaign will encourage people over 60 to be vaccinated.

The commission said it will send out mobile vaccination units to reach people in their 70s and 80s who can’t leave home.

Nine in 10 Chinese have been vaccinated but only 66 per cent of people over 80 have gotten one shot, while 40 per cent have received a booster, according to the Commission.