It's not the end of Feb yet so how do you know he isn't right? Also there is still a chance they plan to get rid of a large number but are avoiding the negative PR but staggering it.
I agree that it's unlikely. Even if they would want to get rid of that number of people it would take years. Plus you would think they would try to sell off a part of the business instead of laying off so many people and paying out severance.