I have a JavaScript function that I’m using in Oracle APEX, which assigns a countdown timer to an item on the page, counting down from 5 minutes to 0. When the value reaches 0, the user gets a modal prompt asking if they’re still on the page. The countdown works correctly, but only when the specific tab is open in the browser. When I have multiple tabs open, the countdown pauses and resumes only when I switch back to the tab with my application. I’d like this timer to run independently of whether the tab is open or not.

var timeoutHandle;
function countdown(minutes) {
    var seconds = 0;
    var mins = minutes;
    function tick() {
        var current_minutes = mins;
        var current_seconds = seconds;
        
        if (current_seconds === 0 && current_minutes === 0) {
            clearTimeout(timeoutHandle);
            return;
        }
        
        if (current_seconds === 0) {
            current_minutes--;
            current_seconds = 59;
        } else {
            current_seconds--;
        }
        
        var c = current_minutes.toString() + ":"
            + (current_seconds < 10 ? "0" : "")
            + current_seconds.toString();
        
        apex.item('P0_SESSION_TIMER').setValue(c);
        timeoutHandle = setTimeout(tick, 1000);
        
        seconds = current_seconds;
        mins = current_minutes;
    }
    tick();
}

Any suggestions on how to make the timer function independently of browser tabs would be greatly appreciated.