After six weeks stuck at home, Spain's children were allowed out to run, play or go for a walk as the government eased one of the world's toughest coronavirus lockdowns.
The health ministry said the figure dropped from 378 on Saturday to 288 on Sunday, and brought Spain's total toll to 23,190, the third-highest number of deaths after the United States and Italy.
Spain issued a stringent stay-at-home order on March 14, confining the country's nearly 47 million population to their homes in a bid to slow the spread of the epidemic.
A father with his son during the first day of allowing children to go out in Spain. Source: AFP
Unlike other countries in Europe and the rest of the world, Spain's children have not been able to go out, with only adults allowed to leave the house to buy food, medicine, briefly walk the dog or because of a medical emergency.
However from Sunday, under-14s can go out once a day, for one hour between 9:00am and 9:00pm, accompanied by one parent - and no further than one kilometre from their home.
"It has been very good for me to get out," said Ricardo, 6, after a runaround in Madrid with his younger sister.
"We played hide and seek, we raced. We found a ladybug that was lost and we put it in among the ants."
Some parents took precautions, dressing their kids with protective gear before going out.
"They're all properly equipped with masks and gloves," said Miguel Lopez, father of two children aged six and three, and who lives in an apartment in northwest Madrid.
"It's like a day out for them, it's the most interesting thing for them in a month."
Children up to the age of 13 were allowed out for an hour every day with an adult. Source: AFP
All Spaniards will be allowed out for exercise and to take walks from next weekend, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Saturday.
The government will on Tuesday unveil its broader lockdown exit plan that will likely be put into action in the second half of May, he added.
The ministry of health said that 98,731 people have now recovered from the deadly virus.
Health officials have said Spain's COVID-19 epidemic peaked on April 2, when it recorded 950 deaths over 24 hours.
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