DOWNTOWN—The strict restrictions on public and commercial activity that were reinstated in Los Angeles County to curb the spread of COVID-19 have received backlash from many who claim the measures are putting the region on a slippery slope that could spiral into collective social responsibility if left unchecked. “Simply put, this is fundamentally un-American,” said Alan Dershowitz, an Emeritus Professor of Law at Harvard University and prominent legal commentator, who argued other parts of the country may follow LA’s lead, causing irreparable damage to the national character of a country founded on individual freedom. “While even one life lost to this virus is too many, we cannot make the mistake of shredding up our civil liberties and heading down this dark path to a society where people feel they have to constantly worry about those around them and make decisions based on some alleged ‘common good.’” At press time, there were myriad reports of LA residents complaining of strange physical and emotional sensations in relation to others, a phenomenon psychologists refer to as empathy.