Mimicking a request to self-isolate? (5)
I believe the answer is:
aping
'mimicking' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'a request to self-isolate?' is the wordplay.
'request to self-isolate?' becomes 'ping' (alert on a Covid-19 test and trace app).
'a'+'ping'='APING'
(Other definitions for aping that I've seen before include "Parroting" , "Acting like a parrot" , "Trying to repeat" , "Taking off" , "Making copy of" .)