5 things you need to know this morning: Dec. 3, 2021

Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.

Five things you need to know

1. Omicron more likely to cause reinfection, data show

The first real-world data on the Omicron variant of COVID-19 have shown it may evade immunity against the virus. The variant has led to a surge in COVID-19 cases in South Africa.

Scientists in South Africa say omicron is at least three times more likely to cause reinfection than previous variants such as beta and delta, according to a preliminary study published Thursday https://t.co/Cd4HwjFFYa

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 3, 2021

2. Gene-editing technology used to create all-female and all-male mice litters

Scientists have used gene editing techniques to artificially create all-male and all-female litters of mice. The technology could be used to prevent the slaughter of millions of unwanted male chickens, the researchers explained.

The Crick’s @lab_turner and @UniKent have used #CRISPR gene editing to produce all-male and all-female mouse litters 🐁

This could improve animal welfare in farming and research, where sometimes only one sex is needed. https://t.co/EYAsLohxiA

— The Crick (@TheCrick) December 3, 2021

3. Maxwell was 'lady of the house' in Epstein's mansion: ex-employee

Ghislaine Maxwell was the "lady of the house" at child rapist Jeffrey Epstein's mansion in Florida, a former employee has told a court. Juan Alessi said Maxwell told him not to look the disgraced financier in the eye while in his home.

Epstein Housekeeper Describes What He Witnessed When Ghislaine Maxwell Moved Into Home: ‘See Nothing. Say Nothing.’ https://t.co/KEmhyaAnyh pic.twitter.com/p3McMgTkWl

— Forbes (@Forbes) December 3, 2021

4. Baldwin says acting career could be over after fatal shooting

Actor Alec Baldwin has said his career could be over following the fatal shooting of a woman on the set of one of his movies. The actor claimed in an interview, however, that he "didn't pull the trigger" of the gun that killed the film's cinematographer.

EXCLUSIVE: Alec Baldwin to @GStephanopoulos on 'Rust' shooting: "Someone is ​responsible...but I know it's not me." https://t.co/b651lcjSLX

Watch the interview NOW on @ABC and later on @Hulu.

— ABC News (@ABC) December 3, 2021

5. Debt collectors permitted to send DMs to their targets

Debt collectors now have permission to send direct messages to their targets on social media platforms in the US. Critics have said the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule could lead to invasions of privacy.

Debt collectors can now text, email or contact you on social media to seek repayment under new rules approved by the Consumer Financial Prorection Bureau.https://t.co/oob3tIduy4

— NPR (@NPR) December 2, 2021