MONTREAL - Montreal's two children's hospitals are struggling to deal with the fallout of the winter flu, while much of a Laval hospital remained closed to visitors Thursday because of a gastro bug.

Emergency rooms at the Montreal Children's and the Sainte-Justine Hospital were crowded with cases of the seasonal flu.

A spokesperson for the Montreal Children's said Thursday they are seeing about 30 cases a day, about double the normal amount.

Officials at Sainte-Justine Hospital asked Wednesday that patients stay away from the ER unless there is actually an emergency.

The hospital said that too many parents are bringing in children who are suffering flu-like symptoms.

Right now the hospital is struggling to handle 300 patients a daily -- far above its capacity of 180.

Meanwhile, much of Cite de la Sante Hospital in Laval remained closed to visitors Thursday because of a gastro outbreak.

Officials closed off the entire hospital Wednesday afternoon to visitors until further notice.

Andreanne Constantinou of Cite de la Sante said staff members are wearing gloves, protective shirts, masks, and washing their hands.

Ambulances have been told to avoid the hospital if possible, she said.

But the move to ban visitors from the premises did not go off without a hitch.

A family that spoke with CTV Montreal's Aphrodite Salas spent two hours in the obstetrics ward, after the ban was put in place.

They say they didn't even know there was a gastro outbreak until we told them about it and pointed out the signs.

"I don't understand," said Raymond Robertson

"There's no one checking people when they go into the hospital…they're just letting anyone in."

Public health officials advise that before rushing to the hospital with flu or gastro symptoms, parents should call Info Sante at 8-1-1 or visit a CLSC.