Oh OK, makes more sense then.

In the past there were two guys at the counter, one reading QR and other taking sample. Wasn't paying attention how they use the bottles - I assumed they bottled each sample individually.

But today they separately scanned QRs and handed out empty container (I assume) to every 10th individual earlier in the queue, and that person would then carry it to the testing station.

Testing stations seem to have changed to a system where swab samples from 10 consecutive individuals are collected in single container, and tested as a whole. If that batch (of individuals that happened to queue together) tests positive, then all 10 are called for individual re-testing.

Or so I was told - sounds a bit weird (knowing TIC), that all 10 have to go queue again, while fully knowing at least one of them was just tested positive.

Perhaps it was explained to me poorly - would make more sense, in local context, for hazmat suits to visit the individuals instead.

I suppose this speeds testing in situation where there aren't that many cases around - and saves resources.

@livinginchina That would be Finland

Don't know about UK, but for my country must go file the application in person (they confirm identity at that time, take finger prints etc). Pickup later yourself or by someone authorized with letter of attorney.

Since CoVid-19, you can apparently also arrange and prepay a courier service to pick up the enveloped passport and deliver to Kunming.

But for any country with attention to security, it sounds strange if everything could be done without going in person at all (neither for application nor pick-up).

@fanghuo: "folks not hooked up with current tech"

Beside elderly, these complications also apply to cases of young children that are not yet hooked to cellphones.

At least I think that when we get tested, my wife uses her phone to handle both herself and our son, and can produce separate health certificates from her phone when needed.

Despite declining birth rate, there are still so many kids around that it has to (and appears to) work smoothly.

I suppose elderly can be handled in similar dependent manner when needed. Problems may relate to establishing that an individual is really dependent that way, as it deals with personal boundaries a bit (even here).

Apparently within city's public transport young children (ours is 5yr, don't know where it caps) can travel without showing negative PCR result, just the accompanying adult needs to show theirs. Practical, but certainly illogical considering that the kids usually mingle more with their peers than most adults (in kindergartens, playgrounds etc).