Petition · past parliament · Department for Education

Do not exempt under 18s (including school children) from self-isolating

Closed 3,322 signatures

What the petition asks

The Government has said that from 16 August 2021, children under the age of 18 years old will no longer be required to self-isolate if they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. We believe current rules should be kept in place.
Current mitigations are clearly not effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19 in our schools. The best defence we have is to try and halt the spread by isolating pupils who have been in close contact with individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19.

While children are at relatively low risk from serious covid illness, many unfortunately going on to suffer with long covid for many months, and the long-term effects of infection are not known.

Timeline

6 Jul 2021 Petition opened for signatures
6 Jan 2022 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 3,322
Status Closed
Department Department for Education
Opened 6 Jul 2021
Closed 6 Jan 2022

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.