As the largest anti-government protests since decades have continued over strict zero-COVID policies, crowds in China clashed with white, hazmat-suited police officers.

According to online posts, the clashes occurred in Guangzhou on Tuesday evening.

One Twitter video shows objects flying at dozens riot police wearing all-white pandemic gear and shields above their heads as they move in formation over what appears like torn-down locksdown barriers.

Later, police are seen taking a group of handcuffed people to unknown locations.

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Another clip features people throwing objects at police officers, while the third video shows a tear gas canister landing in a small crowd along a narrow street with people running to escape.

The videos were filmed in Guangzhou’s Haizhu District, where violent COVID-related unrest occurred two weeks ago . However, it is not clear when the clips were taken.

Protests followed a weekend of demonstrations in Shanghai, Beijing and other cities.

Rare scenes of open dissent in China have sparked protests across the country against restrictions and lockdowns in .

The number of daily coronavirus infection cases has reached record levels in the last few weeks, but it remains low by international standards.

Many believe that the economic restrictions are restricting the economy and are becoming increasingly out of tune with the rest.

Millions of residents were forced to live in their homes and subject to mass testing programs. They also had to endure sudden lockdowns in areas with high coronavirus levels or close family members.

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Guangzhou is home to many migrants factory workers. It’s a large port city north from Hong Kong in Guangdong provincial. Officials announced last night that they will allow COVID patients with close contact to quarantine at their home rather than forcing them to stay in shelters.

Officials announced an “orderly” return to business in Zhengzhou’s central city, following clashes at the Foxconn factory that makes iPhones. There was also an exodus from the site of workers frustrated by COVID curbs.

They also published a long list buildings that would be kept under lockdown.

In a statement, the country’s top security agency called for a crackdown against “hostile forces”, but it did not mention the protests.

The Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission stated that “illegal and illegal acts that disrupt the social order” will not be tolerated.

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On Tuesday, national health officials stated that China will respond to “urgent concern” raised by the public. They also suggested that COVID rules be more flexible to accommodate the severity of each outbreak.

The public may have been appeased by the relaxation of certain measures, but the authorities also began to search for protestors.

A Beijing resident told Reuters that police came to my door Wednesday to inquire about the incident and to get me to sign a written report.

Another claimed that some of their friends had posted videos of protests via social media and were taken to police station where they were asked to sign a promise that they would not do it again.