WATCH: Quebec may detain citizens at COVID-19 isolation facility, public health authority says

Dr. Jacques Girard, leader of the Quebec City public health authority, stated during a press conference that a number of customers at a bar were ordered to wait for the results from their COVID-19 test, but decided to leave the premises before the results came back.

This is what Girard claims to have "led to them being taken and forcibly placed into isolation by the state."

“[W]e may isolate someone for 14 days,” Girard noted during the press conference. “And it is what we did this morning… forced a person to cooperate with the investigation… and police cooperation was exceptional.”

Girard went on to say that if a person is told to stay in isolation, public health officials have the duty to go to their home and force the person to comply. And if they do not comply, the state is permitted to pick them up and force them to adhere to the protocols.

Girard then continued by going into detail that prompted the action, saying: "The order targeted two people who were not cooperating. And it is great that we can finally work with that provision. You know, before, if we were not in a health crisis, the Public Heath Director could use this provision for 72 hours while waiting for the judge’s confirmation of such a provision."

"In the COVID-19 case, we may isolate someone for 14 days. And it is what we did this morning, and we have done in the past, and, such as this morning, forced a person to cooperate with the investigation, and we’ve done it in the past with success, and police cooperation was exceptional. Thank you all, have a great day. When you order someone to not leave home for 14 days, does it happen in their home…"

Someone replied with "it is not at home... 14 days at home ..."

Girard said that "it is in a prison ... Do you feel like you are in a prison? Because that’s it. Often, it is what we do. It is a location; we at the CIUSS [Government agency] have the power to provide for preventative isolations. It’s happening. Finally, it is a much easier provision when someone is not cooperating, and it becomes more difficult."

Girard asked if these people were under watch—to which he answered in the affirmative. When pressed on where these people were being held, Girard stated: "It is not at home. It depends on the person. Because we have had people isolated at home. And then, we saw the person was not at home. So, we went to their home, and then told them, we are isolating you where we want you to be."