MUSCAT — Sultan of Oman Haitham Bin Tariq on Tuesday urged people in the country to co-exist and gradually adapt to new circumstances resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. "Due to persistence of the pandemic and the lack of effective treatment so far, it has become necessary to co-exist in accordance with this emerging situation and adapt to it gradually, which cannot be realized without the collaboration of all members of society," Oman News Agency quoted Sultan Haitham as saying. The Omani ruler made the remarks during a meeting of the supreme committee tasked with dealing with the pandemic. He called for setting a new central laboratory for public health should be established to keep pace with technical advancement and modern systems and meet all needs under all circumstances. Sultan Haitham stressed that the prime objective of the country, since the outbreak of the pandemic, is to protect all those who live in Oman, both citizens and residents. He also ordered setting up a new central laboratory for public health to keep pace with technical advancement and modern systems and to cover all needs under all circumstances. The top meeting took place as the country recorded 576 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of COVID-19 infections in the country to 12,800. The newly diagnosed cases include 209 Omanis and 367 foreign residents, according to a statement from the Health Ministry. The ministry also reported nine more virus-related deaths, taking the Sultanate"s total number of fatalities to 59.