Hong Kong¡¯s health officials warned that the city is facing a ¡°crisis¡± as a record 2,000 preliminary positive cases threatened to overwhelm hospitals and upend its ¡°COVID zero¡± strategy.

Authorities on Sunday reported 1,347 infections and said more than 3,400 confirmed patients were receiving treatment. Cases have exceeded capacity at Hong Kong¡¯s hospitals, health officials said, adding they will now shift to prioritizing care for the elderly and children who test positive.

With daily COVID-19 infections seeing a breakneck surge from just 14 about three weeks ago, officials sought Beijing¡¯s support over the weekend on several fronts including help with analyzing virus strains, building isolation facilities and the supply of test kits.