Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made the declaration to overcome objections by local officials to new lockdown rules. The restrictions "create chaos," said Isabel Díaz Ayuso, Madrid's president.
Last week, children there got to play outside for the first time in weeks. Now adults are taking advantage of the same opportunity in droves, as authorities allowed a few hours of recreation Saturday.
Despite the increase, Spain's figures suggest the rate of new infections has begun to slow, according to a spokeswoman for the government's health emergency center.
