(CNN) Acting Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli said on Wednesday that coronavirus travel restrictions for Europe are under discussion.

"The question is a live question, congressman, about how to treat Europe as a whole. You've seen Department of State and CDC warnings go up. That is not to the level of using legal authorities to block travel yet, but it is under discussion," he told lawmakers during a congressional hearing.

Cuccinelli pointed out that Europe presents a "unique problem," because the Schengen Zone -- which allows for free movement throughout European Union countries -- creates a region where "they don't have borders for the purposes of travel." He added that there are 29 countries with which to contend.

He questioned whether it "even makes sense" to treat Italy as a unitary entity and said the Italian government is conducting exit testing for travelers on direct flights to the US.

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Cuccinelli's comments come as the US has racked up more than 1,200 cases of coronavirus and struggles to contain the spread of the disease. The NCAA announced Wednesday that the annual men's college basketball tournament would be played without fans and events throughout the country were being canceled in order to keep large crowds from gathering and spreading the virus further.

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