The number of COVID-19 cases within Hawaii’s military community is “a little below 7%” of the state’s total since March, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said.

That means no more than 1,148 cases as of Friday’s cumulative 16,412 positives as the pandemic unfolded in Hawaii. The Defense Department still generally sticks to a policy of not reporting coronavirus cases at the local level and instead notes them as part of service branch totals.

According to the state, about 43,000 active-duty members, 9,600 Guard and Reserve, 60,000 dependents and 20,000 military employees call Hawaii home.

The coronavirus stat comes as the Army in Hawaii continues to train out of state in sometimes large groups and with foreign allies and partners — with COVID-19 prevention steps apparently working.

The last of approximately 4,500 Schofield Barracks soldiers are returning to Hawaii from several weeks of combat certification training at Fort Polk, La., in October.

None have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, said 25th Infantry Division spokesman Lt. Col. Adam Hallmark.

“One hundred percent of our personnel are being screened by permanent- party medical professionals assigned to the Joint Readiness Training Center (in Louisiana) prior to departure,” Hallmark said.

The “capstone” training, which certifies the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team for worldwide deployment, came amid not only the pandemic, but also Hurricane Delta.

In mid-October, Schofield soldiers had to move temporarily from tents and command posts to permanent buildings and conference rooms when winds of more than 50 mph whipped through, knocking out power.

“All the while, the task force continued to wear masks, take temperatures, wash hands and monitor for COVID-19 symptoms,” an Army-produced story said.

According to the Army, the 2nd Brigade “resourced thousands of COVID-19 tests. Everyone was tested” before they flew out of Hawaii.

Maj. Gen. James Jarrard, the 25th Division commander, said the unit did have some positive tests for the virus before leaving, and those soldiers quarantined in Hawaii, Stars and Stripes reported.

Upon return, all the soldiers are conducting a military version of quarantine known as “restriction of movement.”

“Symptomatic or at-risk personnel will not depart Fort Polk; they will be tested and complete any exposure-related quarantine or isolation requirements at Fort Polk,” Hallmark said.

Soldiers from the Thai and Indonesian armies participated in the training with the Schofield soldiers.

“Having the Indonesian company and the Thai company participate in this rotation with their brothers and sisters in the 25th ID is absolutely the way we’re going to fight in the future. And if you’re going to fight that way, you’ve got to train that way,” Gen. Michael Garrett, commander of U.S. Forces Command, said during a visit to the training.

About 40 Indonesian soldiers are currently training in Hawaii for the first time, and a like number of Hawaii soldiers are in Indonesia as part of a platoon exchange that runs through Nov. 25.

“No signs of COVID among troops in either location,” Hallmark said.

Meanwhile, an annual “Disaster Management Exchange” exercise held between Hawaii soldiers and China that ran Tuesday to Thursday was virtual this year instead of in person, shorter in duration and involved fewer participants.

Approximately 25 personnel from each nation participated in a videoconference and discussed humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, said Maj. Oliver Schuster, a spokesman for the 8th Theater Sustainment Command in Hawaii.

“Both militaries agreed on the virtual forum to maintain the event and our engagement,” Schuster said.

Last year about 100 U.S. personnel participated with a similar number of Chinese soldiers in training on Hawaii island. The event is usually rotated between China and the United States. In 2018, U.S. Army Pacific troops traveled to Nanjing, China.

Schuster said it is “absolutely” a success holding the exchanges each year.

“These exchanges are designed to promote international rules, norms and standards, and increase cooperation in a multi-national agreed-upon disaster management framework for the Indo-Pacific region,” he said in an email.