JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<div data-bind="text: curDate"></div>
<input type="button" data-bind="click: recalcCurDate" value="Mutated"></input>

JavaScript

(function() {

    var vm = function() {
        var $this = this;

        $this.dummy = ko.observable();

        $this.curDate = ko.computed(function() {
            $this.dummy();
            return new Date();
        });

        $this.recalcCurDate = function() {
            $this.dummy.notifySubscribers();
        };        
    };

    ko.applyBindings(new vm());

}());