Bay Medical to lay off half its staff — up to 800 people — after Hurricane Michael

Bay Medical Sacred Heart expects to nix half of its workforce by laying off about 800 employees in February, according to a Tuesday press release. The release states the hospital plans to keep approximately half of its 1,645 employees after Feb. 4 after it reopens in January at one-fourth its previous size. The statement comes a day after hospital officials announced large staff cuts were needed at the 323-bed hospital because of the major damage it sustained from Hurricane Michael.