I think the times reported (in a serious article) that China reported the first death on or around that date (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/10/world/asia/china-virus-wu...). I certainly recall seeing coverage of it before that although it was very muted.
"There is no evidence that the new virus is readily spread by humans, which would make it particularly dangerous, and it has not been tied to any deaths"
Clearly, between Jan 8 and late Jan, was the time of massive increased interest, so we're not really in disagreement.
what I said:
>In fact a year ago, exactly
Key word is exactly, as in Jan 12, 2020.